In the ever-changing world of scams, there's a new one that could trick you into replying if you know someone called Emma.
Of course, most people will know someone with that name, but replying to a text purporting to be from one of them will leave victims of this scam £20 out of pocket.
That's because con artists are playing on people's emotions by sending a distressed-sounding message from what appears to be an ordinary mobile number.
Hayley Foyle was one of the potential victims targeted by this scam, North Wales Live reports. She shared the screenshot of the text on Facebook as a warning to others.
The text reads: "It's Emma. I tried to call you but signal bad. I have been taken to hospital after having a fall this morning. "If possible can you do me a quick favour and text me x’."
Similar scams have been caught out over the years, including one which targeted parents asking for phone top-up vouchers.
Ms Foyle posted: “I know lots of Emmas so when this message came through my first instinct was to text back with ‘Emma who?’ Then it occurred to me out of all the Emmas I know, I wouldn’t think any of them would message me in a crisis. I’d be happy to help an Emma out but I think I’d be pretty far down their list.”
Ms Foyle thought the text suspicious so she googled the mobile number the text was sent from. She discovered that texting back would have duped her out of £20.
She also said victims claim to have received variations of the text with different situations used but all aimed at playing on victims' heartstrings. One situation even mimicked a child texting their mum for help after being involved in a car accident.
A spokesperson from Action Fraud said: "Be cautious about answering calls and text messages from unsolicited numbers you don’t recognise, especially if they start 084, 087, 080 or 090.
"Communications with these numbers may be charged at premium rates. If someone really needs to get in touch with you, they’ll leave a voicemail or contact you by other means.
"If you don’t require the ability to contact premium rate numbers, or you want to ensure you don’t accidentally contact numbers such as these, speak with your mobile provider about barring calls and text messages to them.”
If you receive a suspicious text from a number you don’t recognise you can report it to Action Fraud on 03001232040 or online here .
