Is your child really texting you? The Fake Child Scam is back 

A scam that begins with a message pretending to be from a child or grandchild is once again spreading across the Czech Republic. The supposed family member asks for money, claiming to be in trouble. If you believe the message and send the money, you will lose it.

How does the scam work?

1. You receive an SMS, a message via a chat app or an email from an unknown sender.
2. The sender introduces himself/herself as your child or grandchild.
3. In the message, he/she claims to be in trouble, says he/she is writing from a friend’s device and that he/she needs money.
4. A variation of the scam involves claiming he/she has a new phone number. The conversation then continues, and in subsequent messages, he/she asks for money under a fabricated pretext.
5. Along with the request, he/she sends a bank account number for you to transfer the money to.

How to protect yourself against the scam?

1. Verify that you are truly communicating with your child. Contact him/her using a phone number you already know, or reach out through other channels or his/her friends.
2. Do not share any sensitive information in a message unless you are 100% certain that you know who you are talking to.
3. Be careful about what and to whom you are paying. Never send money to an unfamiliar bank account if you do not know exactly who it belongs to.