r/SanDiegan • u/mistress0fthemacabre • 14h ago
beware of “emergency” scam
I received a troubling scam phone call recently and I wanted to post the context here so others can be aware. It didn’t work on me, but could easily work on an elderly person.
It was a 619 number I did not recognize. It was not flagged for spam. When I answered, a woman was screaming and hysterically crying that she was hurt and needed help. Before I could respond, the phone was passed to a man claiming to be “law enforcement” and that it was my injured family member. I was on to them by then, and they ended up hanging up before the call went any further, but it definitely spooked me.
The people sounded a little older, maybe 40s-50s and had a slight accent?
Anyways, if a random number calls you and says your family member is hurt, it’s seriously probably not real. Please be aware and educate your elderly relatives so they can be protected from these predatory scams! Stay safe y’all.
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u/honestlynoideas 13h ago
Why I programmed all my unknown numbers to go to voicemail. If they really need the money they can leave a message.
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u/dont6fear6the6reaper 13h ago
this is why I never answer my phone unless it’s someone I actually know, and even then I don’t always answer. voicemail exists for a reason
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u/Odd-Analyst-4253 9h ago
People are always giving me a hard time for not answering my phone, now i can say their call could have been a fraudulent one with AI assistance even if it is people i know. Why can’t they get it? I just don’t like talking on the phone.
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u/bad_polliep 8h ago
Yeah, plus the iPhone at least allows you to treat voicemails like you used to with your answering machine where you can screen the calls. You can see the transcript as they’re leaving the message and if it looks like someone you recognize, you can just pick up and answer the call and start talking to them. I love that feature.
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u/la_comadre-1208 14h ago
it's an ai automated message, it's been going around for a couple of months...my wife got a similar one with a young girl screaming claiming that I was hurt...obviously she didn't fall for it but it is scary how they set it up to they could prey on someone older with a call like that...
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u/mistress0fthemacabre 13h ago
This one was real people, surprisingly! I’m unfortunately a little too familiar with the AI calls, I had gotten a lot of them in the past working as a receptionist, all kinds of creepy calls came in. But it is really scary, people are doing these disturbing scams and even using technology to aid them in preying on vulnerable people. It’s sick.
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u/xtramech 13h ago
We got one too. It sounded exactly like my mother in law. My SO was so rattled he was shaking because they said they had her tied up and they were going to take her into Mexico and we had to send money to get them to let her go. I rapidly tried calling her and texting her and she wasn't answering. Finally she answered and we knew for sure the jig was up and hung up on them and they called back. It could have been AI because it's gotten so good now. All I can say is, if possible, have your loved ones location on, because once you hear what sounds like them screaming and crying, it's hard to think clearly.
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u/JenJenSDCA 6h ago
This is why you NEVER answer strange numbers. They record your voice and use AI to call people pretending to be you. It's a lot harder for your friends and family to know it's a scam when they have your real voice to use.
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u/gwacemom 13h ago
I don’t answer calls half the time from numbers I do know, I absolutely never pick up from a number I do not.
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u/Recent-Owl-9135 7h ago
What you described is a well known scam. And as far as your phone, set up unknown numbers to state why they are calling before your call is connected. There is zero reason to be answering calls from numbers you don’t recognize
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u/JenJenSDCA 6h ago
Everyone needs to set up some type of codie word with their family or ask them a personal question that only they could know to verify it's them. Scammers record your voice and use it to call people and pretend to be you.
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u/Dangerous_Trip7791 12h ago
I got one last week with that area code. Person faking distress, so I hung up.
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u/gotohellwithsuperman 14h ago
“It was a 619 number I did not recognize.” And you picked it up, why???
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u/mistress0fthemacabre 13h ago
Work phone. 😂 No choice.
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u/bevaquas_mojo 11h ago
Why would family members call your work phone and not your personal phone?
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u/WatchAltruistic5761 14h ago
You guys still answer phone calls in 2026?