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🔴 Current risk: HIGH — Actively circulating in Ireland and the UK.
How the scam works
You receive a WhatsApp or SMS from an unknown number claiming to be your son, daughter, or other family member. They say they have a new phone and ask you to save the number.
Hours or days later, they follow up with a banking emergency — asking you to transfer hundreds or thousands of euro.
Exact message patterns used
- "Dad I'm using this new number now, I've got a new phone. Can you save it and send me a WhatsApp?"
- "Mum it's me, I dropped my phone and this is my new number"
- "Hi, it's [name], I lost my phone — can you save this number?"
What to do immediately
- Do not reply to the unknown number
- Call your family member on their known number right now
- Block and delete the message from the unknown number
- Report to An Garda Síochána: 1800 837 837
- Warn elderly relatives — they are most targeted
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