Unexpected WhatsApp message

GDB2222

I’ve received a message from 'Bess' saying “Hello, are you Mr Finn, the yoga instructor from UK?”

I'm struggling to understand what the scam is? 

Emmia

Just block the number

flaneurs_lobster

So am I.

Is your name Mr Finn?

Are you a UK-based yoga instructor?

It's either a simple error or the broadest of phishing messages, just designed to elicit a response (like spam email ads).

HappyHarry

It might not be a scam, just a wrong number.

Or it might be someone who then wants to continue a conversation  with you, and will eventually lead you to a scam of some kind after much toing and froing of messages.

It is difficult to tell from a single message.

akm2018

GDB2222 said:

I’ve received a message from 'Bess' saying “Hello, are you Mr Finn, the yoga instructor from UK?”

I'm struggling to understand what the scam is? 

Does 'Bess' have a remotely saucy profile pic? And/or a non-UK number?

kimwp

Almost certainly they are scammers trying to start a conversation with you to then get you to download something and input details giving them access. 

Exodi

HappyHarry said:

It might not be a scam, just a wrong number.

Or it might be someone who then wants to continue a conversation  with you, and will eventually lead you to a scam of some kind after much toing and froing of messages.

It is difficult to tell from a single message.

kimwp said:

Almost certainly they are scammers trying to start a conversation with you to then get you to download something and input details giving them access. 

It's this, it's a way to 'innocently' start a conversation that will lead into a scam. I get these sorts of messages all the time. It comes across more genuine, or at least less suspicious, than trying to open with the scam pitch which will be naturally ignored.

akm2018 said:

GDB2222 said:

I’ve received a message from 'Bess' saying “Hello, are you Mr Finn, the yoga instructor from UK?”

I'm struggling to understand what the scam is? 

Does 'Bess' have a remotely saucy profile pic? And/or a non-UK number?

It wouldn't be surprising if it was a relatively attractive female profile picture.

sammyjammy

play along for a bit see what happens

Exodi

sammyjammy said:

play along for a bit see what happens

While it sounds fun, I wouldn't recommend.

Sometimes these sorts of messages/calls are used to test if phone numbers are in use.

Replying, even if just to mess the scammers about, would confirm that the number is in use and possibly cause more scam attempts in the future.

GDB2222

This is the profile pic. 

GDB2222

flaneurs_lobster said:

So am I.

Is your name Mr Finn?

Are you a UK-based yoga instructor?

It's either a simple error or the broadest of phishing messages, just designed to elicit a response (like spam email ads).

If I were Mr Finn, that would be a fluke. And, I'm hopeless at yoga.