It all starts with an innocuous message: “Hey Mom, I have a new number. My phone is broken, I’m contacting you from this one.” Behind this attempt at contact is actually a scammer. Once trust is established, the trap quickly closes. The fake child explains that they are in an urgent situation, often a phone to buy back, a fine to pay, an administrative problem. And they ask for a transfer, right away.
The messages are always constructed to provoke an immediate emotional reaction. The tone is affectionate, hurried, sometimes panicked. And that’s where the scam really hits the mark: by playing on a parent’s unconditional love for their child. As a result, many victims transfer hundreds of euros, or even more, without ever suspecting they are talking to a stranger.
A growing phenomenon
This type of scam, first spotted in the United Kingdom, has exploded in France since 2023. The government platform cybermalveillance.gouv.fr confirms a worrying increase in reports. And the figures are underestimated, because not all victims file a complaint, out of shame or fear of not being taken seriously.
Fraudsters mainly use SMS and WhatsApp, two channels that allow for quick and inexpensive communication. Once a conversation has started, they systematically avoid voice calls, claiming a broken microphone or a faulty network. All to avoid being unmasked by the voice.
Clues to avoid falling into the trap
Fortunately, certain signs can alert you, such as an unknown number, the absence of a first name, a sudden emergency, and above all, a categorical refusal to make a call. So many red flags that should encourage suspicion. Because a real child, even in trouble, will always agree to be heard.
The best response is not to respond to the message, and to contact your child directly via another channel. When in doubt, it's better to take a few minutes to check that everything is okay, rather than transferring an amount that will never come back.
If you've already responded and sent money, the first instinct is to notify your bank immediately to try to block the transfer. You then need to gather all the evidence: screenshots, bank statements, messages received. And file a complaint as soon as possible.
The Pharos platform allows you to report this type of scam online (internet-signalement.gouv.fr), while 33700 remains the official number for forwarding suspicious text messages.
Authorities strongly recommend warning loved ones, especially the elderly or those who are not comfortable with digital technology. The more well-known the scam is, the less effective it becomes. This type of fraud relies on surprise: once the trap is discovered, it becomes harmless.
0 Comments