Scammers are using a common name to prey on victims and try to trick them out of their hard-earned cash.
Most people will know someone called Emma but replying to a text under this name could leave you £20 out of pocket.
The fraudsters are playing on people's emotions by sending a distressed message saying they are in hospital from what appears to be an ordinary mobile number, reports the Liverpool Echo.
On Facebook a post was shared warning others of the scam. A screenshot of the text message read: "Its Emma. I tried to call you but signal bad.
"I been taken to hospital after having a fall this morning.
"If possible can you do me a quick favour and text me x."
The victim who received the message said her first instinct was to reply with 'Emma who?', however it occurred to them that the people she knew wouldn't text in a crisis.
After a quick Google search the person soon realised it was a scam and texting back would cost them £20.
Catherine Skelhorn, from Huyton, also received a variation of the text from someone also called 'Emma'.
However, the 70-year-old said that her message included a link for victims to click on, but no text bar to reply.
The 70-year-old told the Echo: "The message just stated with a normal text and said 'Hi this is Emma. I'm in a bit of a mess can you get back to me by clicking this link.'
"I have relatives called Emma and it made me think, but when I looked it had no second name on.
"I knew if it was one of my contact list it would have done.
"Also no space bar to type back 'Emma who?'.
"I am a pensioner but a streetwise one - so I knew it was a scam right away."
In the previous Facebook post , which has had more than 73,000 shares and 14,000 comments the victim warns that the texts come in various forms to catch people out.
Action Fraud previously warned people about similar scams and said: "After responding to the message, the fraudsters ask victims to purchase a mobile phone top-up code and text it back to them.
"Once the fraudsters have the code, they can get the cash credited to their own mobile phone account."
They warned that: "If a family member was hospitalised, they would never be forced to use a mobile phone that required credit to activate it."
When the Echo rang the number the phone seemed to be turned off and it went straight to an O2 voicemail.
A spokesperson for O2 said: "O2 takes fraud and customer security extremely seriously.
"We recommend that customers do not interact with text messages from unknown numbers that look suspicious.
"Anyone receiving spam texts can forward to our free spam reporting service (7726).
"Our website holds a lot of information for customers on Fraud and Security measures and links to advice on Action Fraud’s website."
