The grandchild trick is a popular scam on WhatsApp. Criminals take advantage of good-natured people to get a lot of money. Now they try it also by SMS.
Scammers want to rob you of a lot of money with messages like this. (Source: news aktuell GmbH)
Everyone has probably heard of messages on WhatsApp in which supposed relatives ask for financial help. Most of these start with the sentence “Hello mom/dad, I have a new cell phone number”. The so-called grandchild trick is old, but it is still used by scammers to steal money from people of all ages. The scam is now also being sent as an SMS.
As reported by the Neubrandenburg police, a pensioner on the island of Usedom was almost the victim of the attempted fraud. The fraudsters contacted the elderly gentleman via SMS, pretended to be his daughter and demanded 2,330 euros. The man transferred the money. Fortunately, his house bank became suspicious and canceled the transfer.
Whether on WhatsApp, by SMS or on a social media platform. If you receive a message asking for money, you should not respond. The scammers put emotional pressure on you and urge you to act quickly. Don’t let this irritate you and take your time to look at the message soberly. If you are supposed to be relatives, call them back on the number you know.
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