Attempted scam?

LadyDee

Just out of interest really and perhaps it was perfectly innocent.

Waiting at bus station and a young man asked me for some info on buses. Told him numbers and times etc. and went back to reading my book.

A couple of minutes later he asked me if he could use my phone to text his doctor, being by nature ultra careful (suspicious) I simply said, "sorry, no".

I then felt a little bit guilty and wondered if perhaps he'd run out of credit or battery. However, he then wandered a little distance away and made a call on his mobile!

This has left me wondering - did I make the right decision to say "No"? What could have happened if I'd said "Yes".

smudger1964

Good decision..
He probably would have been off on his toes with your phone..

20aday

Did you make the right decision saying "no"?

It sounds like it to me. By saying "yes" he'd have done a runner with your phone.

Maybe it's a sign of the times but you're better off being cautious. I've been too trusting in the past with people and it's not been a wise decision, believe me!

LadyDee

Strangely, running off with the phone didn't occur to me - I thought it might possibly have been more a "techie" type thing - send a text somewhere to someone who would then have my number and perhaps install something on my phone to access to any info I had stored. Overthinking!

poppy10_2

Yeah, most likely he would have just run off with it. I've seen it done.

boliston

You could have offered to send a text for him - that way he could not run off with the phone OR send a premium rate text.

forgotmyname

As above either done a runner with your phone or phoned/text a premium line that signs you upto a a large bill that you find you cannot cancel.

tavernman

My question is how did he know you had a phone? Or are you like 99% of the people have a smart phone that is worth something, and too dumb to realise it can fit in your handbag/pocket until you actually need it ...cynicism,IS.me.com

LadyDee

tavernman wrote: »

My question is how did he know you had a phone? Or are you like 99% of the people have a smart phone that is worth something, and too dumb to realise it can fit in your handbag/pocket until you actually need it ...cynicism,IS.me.com

My phone is worth about a fiver and only sees daylight in the event of an emergency - he simply assumed I had one I suppose.

LadyDee

The things mentioned by forgotmyname & boliston are more what I had in mind I think.

agrinnall

tavernman wrote: »

My question is how did he know you had a phone? Or are you like 99% of the people have a smart phone that is worth something, and too dumb to realise it can fit in your handbag/pocket until you actually need it ...cynicism,IS.me.com

I'd say asking anyone if they have a phone stands a pretty good chance of being successful - according to this page in Q1 2014 93% of UK adults had a mobile phone and 61% had a smartphone.

http://media.ofcom.org.uk/facts/