Text & WhatsApp messaging Scam purporting to be from a family member

SeanD — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 10:43:52 GMT

Hi Everyone,

Please be aware of a new scam doing the rounds. The scams involve a text or WhatsApp message from a person claiming to be a family member and have the common aim of encouraging the recipient to transfer money.

In each case, a person purporting to be a family member, often a daughter or son, asks for money. Typically, the ‘child’ is short of money or late paying bills and makes a request for the recipient to transfer money into an account. This is backed by a story that he or she has recently changed their phone or phone number.

Please remain vigilant and don’t get caught. If you receive a message of this nature, please take the time to verify that the message is actually coming from your family member by making contact through reliable means. Don’t enter into the dialogue through the same text or Whatsapp message.

Here is an example of a Whatsapp message in which the scammer pretends to be the daughter of the victim,

If you have shared bank details or made a payment as requested in the text then follow this advice;

If bank details were given out or you made a payment then contact your bank immediately and change your online banking passwords
Forward the text to 7726 (an easy way to remember this is that it spells out SPAM on the keypad)

Stay safe and please share this info with your friends and family.

Cheers

Sean

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Text & WhatsApp messaging Scam purporting to be from a family member