WhatsApp scam warning after parents are targeted by ‘their own children’ | #whatsapp | #lovescams | #phonescams


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A prominent UK sports commentator, presenter, and broadcaster is urging others to stay alert after her mother was targeted in a new WhatsApp scam.

In a bid to warn as many people as possible, Jacqui Oatley MBE took to Twitter to share screenshots of WhatsApp messages on her mum’s phone that appear to have been sent by her.

The star, who currently works for Sky Sports and has worked for BBC Sport, ITV Sport and several radio channels in the past, warned people to look out for the ‘incredibly believable’ scam.

The clever messages almost scammed Jacqui’s ‘lovely, kind mum’ out of £2,291, before their ‘terrible’ grammar alerted her suspicion.

Several people have since been sharing screenshots of similar messages with the con artists.

The messages typically begin with either ‘Hi Mum’ or ‘Hi Dad’. The scammer says they are messaging from a different, unknown phone because they have lost or damaged their own.

Preying on emotions, the fraudster pretends they are in trouble and need their parent’s help.

Read more: There’s finally a solution for finding out if you’ve been email scammed

In the case of Jacqui’s mum, the scammer engaged in small talk before saying said they had had the ‘worse day ever’ and that they were ‘stressed’, asking if she could pay off some bills.

Jacqui shared the screenshots with the message: “I’m keen to warn you about a scam which my lovely, kind mum so nearly fell for. It was incredibly believable.

“Someone pretends to be you but on a different number, contacts someone close to you and asks them to quickly pay a bill for you before you pay them back.”

Someone else shared a similar exchange where the scammer claimed the victim’s daughter had dropped their phone down the toilet to account for the unknown number.

Independent charity Victim Support said: “WhatsApp impersonator scams see fraudsters posing as a loved one needing financial help. They’re really difficult to spot, and can be really convincing, especially if the scammer has access to your messages.”

Featured Image – Unsplash

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‘Inspirational’ 100-year-old Macclesfield man who reads to schoolchildren given prestigious honour

Emily SergeantEmily Sergeant

A 100-year-old Cheshire man who spends his free time reading to local schoolchildren has been awarded a prestigious honour.

After sadly losing his wife of 72 years, centenarian and World War II veteran Peter Offord Davies from Macclesfield said he felt like “a lost soul”, and so he decided to begin lending a hand down at Dean Valley Community Primary School in Bollington.

For the past six years, Mr Davies has been sharing his passion for reading with the children at the school, and encourages them to enjoy it as much as he does.

Originally from Coventry but now living in Macclesfield, Mr Davies – who served in the Army Air Corps as a glider pilot, and took part in the largest airborne operation ever – said his volunteering work at the school gives him a bit of “street cred” in his village, and he also loves getting to watch children’s confidence grow.

“The kids are great – they are like sponges,” Mr Davies told BBC North West.

“I’m sure I get more out of it than the children do as it’s a lovely warm feeling [that] I belong.

“I’m not this old man who lives on his own, I’m part of the community, which is great. Plus my street cred is tremendous because I’ll be going anywhere in the village and a child will shout out ‘Hello Mr Davies’ and I feel 10 feet tall.”

The school’s head teacher, Vicky McPherson, has described Mr Davies as “inspirational, generous, considerate and thoughtful”.

As a way of celebrating and honouring the incredible volunteering work he has doing, Mr Davies has now become the oldest recipient of an award on King Charles III‘s first-ever New Year’s Honours list back in 2022.

/ Credit: BBC News

He has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to volunteering.

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Ms McPherson added: “He has gifted his time for so many children over the last six years to instil a love of reading that we will never be able to say thank you.”

Featured Image – BBC News

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New dating show dubbed ‘middle-aged Love Island’ is looking for single parents to apply

Emily SergeantEmily Sergeant

ITV has finally confirmed its newest dating show, which has already been dubbed the ‘middle-aged Love Island’, is actually on the way.

It’s long been rumoured that ITV had a Love Island spin-off series more geared towards parents and those looking for love in the middle of their life in the works, with reports hotly-tipping it to hit screens soon first surfacing back in July of last year.

Sources teasing the potential of the spin-off series told the tabloids last year that contestants in the proposed new mature series may offer something that the main Love Island series hasn’t achieved – “intelligent conversation”

“They know their minds, will be capable of intelligent conversation, and are likely to be much more adventurous,” the source admitted.

“All ingredients regular Love Island sometimes lacks.”

But now, after months of speculating whether or not it would ever become a reality, the broadcaster has announced that all the rumours are true – and single parents are now being encouraged to get their applications in.

New dating show dubbed ‘middle-aged Love Island’ is looking for single parents to apply / Credit: Tyler Nix (via Unsplash)

The brand-new dating show, which is titled The Romance Retreat, will see a group of “vibrant single parents” from across the UK all meet under one roof.

Set to be the only dating show where single parents can search for love in a safe space, the group of contestants will be whisked off to spend some time in a luxury retreat.

All the parents competing in the new series will have been nominated by their grown-up children.

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ITV hasn’t really given too much away about what viewers can expect from the new series at this moment in time, but it has announced that applications are now open for parents over the age of 18 to shoot their shot and give love another try, and you have until 31 March 2023 to stick yours or your parent’s name down to be considered.

Fancy it then? Find out more and apply here.

Featured Image – ITV





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