"Mom, I’m in trouble": requests for money from "family"

Cartoon

Kate is at work, busy with a report. Her son Max is at sports practice.

A message arrives from an unknown number. It sounds like Max.

Kate: Oh no, the police… I have to help him right now!

Then a voice message comes in. The voice sounds a lot like Max. Today, computer programs can copy a voice from just a few seconds of a video posted online.

Let’s pause. A new number, a sudden emergency, a request to tell no one and to send money to a stranger’s card — four signs of a scam at once.

Kate: First, I’ll call Max at his usual number. The one saved in my contacts.

Max: Mom, I’m at practice, everything’s fine! My phone is right here in my hand. That wasn’t me.

Max: Let’s pick a family code word. If "one of us" asks for money, ask for the word. A crook won’t know it.

One minute for a phone call can save you from a big loss. Your real family member can wait that minute.

Exercise: really family or not?

Kate got six messages and calls. For each one, decide: is it dangerous or not?

• Unknown number: «Mom, it’s me, I have a new number. I need $200 right away, I’ll explain later. Just don’t tell Dad.» — Dangerous. A new number, "urgent", "don’t tell anyone" — the classic trick. Call your son at his old number.
• Linda, next door: «Kate, can you lend me $100 till tomorrow? Here’s the card number, it’s my niece’s card.» — Dangerous. Linda’s account may have been taken over. Call her and ask. Someone else’s card is one more warning sign.
• Max ❤️: «Mom, practice runs late, I’ll be home by eight, don’t worry.» — Safe. A familiar number, and no one asks for money. It’s an ordinary message.
• Call: "a hospital doctor": «Your son has been in an accident. He needs surgery right away. Send $750 to this card, or we won’t make it in time.» — Dangerous. Hospitals don’t demand card payments over the phone. Hang up and call your son and the hospital yourself.
• Max ❤️: «Mom, I forgot my card. Can you send me $10 for the bus?» — Safe. His own number, your own code word, a small request that makes sense. It’s fine to help.
• Voice message from an unknown number: «Mom, it’s me, I can’t talk, please send money to this card, I really need it!» — Dangerous. A voice can be faked today. Don’t trust the voice — call back at the number you know.

What to remember

• Crooks text and call pretending to be family: "new number", "trouble", "right now".
• A voice can be faked with a computer. A familiar-sounding voice is not proof.
• Before sending money, call your family member at their old, known number.
• Pick a family code word and ask for it whenever someone asks for money.

Questions

Your "son" texts from a new number and asks for $300 right away. What do you do first?

• Send it before things get worse
• Call your son at his old number and ask
• Ask him to send a photo

A call to the number you know shows the truth in a minute.

A voice message comes in, and the voice sounds just like your family member. Can you trust it?

• Yes, a voice can’t be faked
• Yes, if the voice sounds upset
• No: voices are faked with computers. Call back

A few seconds of a video posted online are enough to fake a voice.

Why does a family need a code word?

• To quickly check that you’re talking to family, not a crook
• To sign in to the bank
• To make it more fun for the kids

Only your family knows the word. A crook can’t guess it.

"Just don’t tell anyone" — what does this request mean?

• The person is embarrassed, so respect it
• It’s a sign of a scam: they want to cut you off from people who could warn you
• That’s just how people ask for a loan

Your loved ones get in the crook’s way, so he asks you to keep quiet.