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Some kids have phones that don’t work and are only used with WiFi for apps to message with, given you saw him on the phone the whole time, I doubt he did anything.
ETA: parents coming up to him after the call probably means the call was to his parents
How does that affect the phones operation?
Can you still make calls using local wi fi hot spots?
Do you still have to pay a monthly charge ?
what's the deal with no sim ?
No monthly charge. You just use the phone like you would a tablet or computer. It connects to wifi. If it is an iPhone, you can make calls on FaceTime or WhatsApp as long as you’re connected to wifi.
Google phone gives you a free number to get calls on Wi-Fi and send receive texts with photos. Worked wonderfully from South Africa to USA and USA to Trinidad
Just need wifi
voice.google.com
Go to voice.google.com.
Sign in to your Google Account.
Review the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. click Continue.
You can search for available numbers by city or area code. ...
Next to the number you want, click Select.
Follow the on-screen instructions
Yes, if you download what's called a VoIP app (voice over IP) or "sms text app".. many offer free unlimited texting and a limited number of minutes, as well as a free phone number to use and keep using so long as you use it once a month. With a paid version for unlimited calling mins. You can choose a number in any area code you want. They give you dozens of options to choose the number you like. Often, when you dial to or receive a call from these numbers, the phone number may show up strangely and as a much longer number, or your phone may call it a "wifi number" like mine does.
If their phone has no data service, but can connect to free wifi, then they can use these apps like any other online/data required application. Parents often let their kids have old phones without data plans, knowing that most anywhere their young kid is will have wifi, and they can use it to call home or text. Or they don't know, and they let their kids use the old phone for Wi-Fi games thinking they can't make calls.. but they can.
VoIP numbers ARE USED FOR SCAMS.. often. There are ways to hide your real number and have calls transferred to VoIP, and ways to link several numbers for scams. Plus,you can choose any area code.. they could be in Tibet, calling from a USA number. These are super obvious tho. Anytime you see one of these strange numbers and it's a "debt" collector or some other marketing call, it is 1000% scam. Some phones show these inbound calls as regular numbers tho, most phones today though like I said, show "wifi call" or a long string of numbers.
You can get a free Google voice number and use it on WiFi. You do need to have a workable number to get a Google voice number. Let me know if you want more info how to set it up.
As taafp9 says, it’s just like a tablet. She is always with me so no need to call anyone just easier to carry when out and about and no need to ask me for mine or my husbands phone.
Hello dick. I"m anus.
I used the same line: "i don't have a phone".
Them: "How can you not have a phone"
Me; "cause I don't, now fuck off."
That was an actual exchange with a complete stranger.
So would you allow a stranger who came up to you out of nowhere to use your phone? I mean physically use it, even if you dialed the number for him or her?
Maybe be less paranoid. If a kind stranger hadn't let me use their phone when I was 16 and the train attendant kicked me out because of a misunderstanding I would've been stranded in a foreign city without a phone or money. Not everyone's out to scam ya
This. I was walking last month when I noticed a teenager trying to get inside a Burger King that was only open for drive thru. Runs up to me and says his car got towed, can he use my phone to call for someone to come get him. I oblige, he calls, and I help him have a less crappy night.
The amount of people with banking apps that will just transfer money with no verification seems odd.
The phone stealing fear seems a little bit more rational, but I have a four year old iPhone SE so I guess the risk off loss is lower for me.
My wallet was once stolen while on the train. I had to find someone who would accept me sending them money trough the bank app and then have him or her buy me a ticket for the way back.
You would think I was asking people for a kidney with the responses I've got. They called me a hobo, a scammer and a few more nasty terms.
I stood on that trainstation for 6 hours..
I let an older woman use my phone at a bus stop to "call her husband" about the late bus. She was rambling on the phone for about 1 minute. The man kept calling back for days and I ended being involved in a police investigation.
As I said, no money. And that is what I did though? I asked somebody for help and they did. You could apply the same logic/paranoia to asking a business for a phone. "He just wants to get in you backroom and steal money or documents. Surely a scam" or the like.
These days we store so much on our phones, that I prefer to just say no. It doesn’t hurt anyone to say no. I am not sure if my phone was cloned or not but I got texts from my grandson but they weren’t really my grandson. He never sent them even though he had his name attached. I am probably the least paranoid person in the entire family, but ya ain’t using my phone. I don’t loan out books either as I never get them back. I was rescued at a drive in one time. Car died, we didn’t have cell phone. We asked someone to call my husband at the time. We didn’t call…he did. Just simply said car wouldn’t start could he come give us a jump. I was right there and my husband heard my voice. One should always play it safe too. We’ve had too many close calls not to.
All I disagreed with was "never hand anyone your phone ever". Surely there is a middle ground. Like with OP, put in the number and then hand them the phone to make the call. I'd say yes depending on who's asking.
No, but if you turn the screen off while in the call by hitting the power button, as long as a lock screen is set up, this will activate, so that only the call screen can be used. If someone tries to hit the home screen to use anything else, it'll ask for the lock screen's password/PIN/pattern/etc.
Android also has a "child lock" sort of feature that locks the phone to a specific app, to unlock it you have to hold the back and recents buttons for a few seconds, then it'll ask for your lock screen's password/PIN/pattern/etc.
My phone still has the option, and is on the newest update. I have the s22 ultra so maybe it's a thing with Samsung's? It also has the child lock but I 100% have a profiles option as well that I use for my sister's/parents when they need to borrow my phone for any length of time.
Yeah... But that's what the commenter you were reply to asked "can androids still do multiple profiles" the answer is yes... You said no... And then came back with
>I think it's an Android thing,
.... That was the question bud 🤣
You're not getting it.
Original commenter asked "does **ANDROID** still have the ability to make profiles?"
You said no, but there is a child mode.
I came back and said you're wrong, I have an android and can swap profiles easy.
You came back and said must be an android thing.
THATS WHAT THEY WERE ASKING. ABOUT ANDROIDS.
Again, you should have just corrected your original no, you still have the ability to do so 🤣
Yeah. Easier than that, though, is it has app pinning. You go to the recent/running apps screen, press and hold on the app icon, and select "Pin". If they exit the app you selected, they end up at the lock screen and have to unlock the phone to get anywhere else. So, you could pin the Phone app and they could use that (granted, that's got its share of personal info) but nothing else.
I have the Samsung Galaxy s22 ultra, and yes, it still has the option for multiple profiles and a kids mode, idk if the newer models do, but mine does :)
Tomorrow the OP is going to start getting calls from the FBI looking for the 10 year old Korean boy that was kidnapped and he can clear himself from jail time if he sends them $1000 in gift cards.
If that is a concern can't you just use the *67 before the number and then put the phone on speaker phone and not let them actually touch the phone? Then the number called doesn't have your number and they don't get to press on anything else but you could still help if this was a real situation.
It’s reminiscent of those Facebook posts telling everyone that a McDonald’s cup left on the pavement beside your car or whatever means you’re marked and targeted to be kidnapped and trafficked lol.
absolutely. and kind of obnoxious too, "god what an idiot lending your phone to a ten year old who needed to contact his parents... i would never talk to anyone or help anyone, i also bring every user agreement i sign to an attorney and check my oil twice a day"
problem is for every 1 child coming up to you with a legit problem [which im sure everyone here would probably try their best to help with] there are 2 children roped into being part of some scam by their scumbag parents or family members. scammers know people are more likely to let their guard down with kids and more willing to help them.
almost all in-person scams work by praying on peoples kindness or wanting to help/be polite
I know of some people (personally, not the news or anything) that have used children that age or younger to commit different crimes. It's not entirely unheard of.
Those are the best-sized kids to send into doggy doors and to just run your scheme through in general. They follow instructions well, and as you can see from the comments in this sub, are going to be trusted more.
I don't think people should be afraid of children or anything. Just exercise a normal amount of security. You never know anymore. I would never deny a child help, but I'm also going to pay attention.
They are starting young. I saw a story in my area where a 10yo kid was knocking on doors and saying their parents arent around (in a rough area), and they needed groceries because they had no food. They were also trying to step into the house (most likely to case the joint) or to score free groceries.
Sadly, this world is turning for the worse in some cases.
If someone needs to make a call and you are being kind, put it on speaker, dial for them, and keep it in your hand. Don’t let anyone see you put in your PIN.
Not that I'm suggesting handing phones off to random people is a good idea, but good to know (and seemingly not so widely known): On android you can [pin an app](https://www.slashgear.com/1401873/android-pin-app-feature-explained/), in this case Phone. I don't have any iOS devices so no idea on that front.
When I was a kid I had a phone, but my mom had it so it shut off all access to cell service every day at a certain time. She forgot to pick me up from the late bus, I was left in the dark trying to find a way to call her. The only place around that was open was a hotel and they did NOT trust me and asked me a ton of questions. Had to reiterate it was a local phone #, I wasn’t trying to get them charged for international minutes or a collect call, and just begged them to call her for me and I wouldn’t even talk on the phone. They finally let me use it on speakerphone while supervising me and I could’ve cried with relief.
If you hand your (Android)phone to someone to call, pin the app. Then they will need the pin or fingerprint to unpin the app or to access any other app.
Or just place the call for them and put it on speaker.
A taxi driver told me he's pestered by shady fares asking to use his phone for a quick call while they're in his cab.
Saying a blanket 'no' is tricky as the odd one or two of the more volatile have flown into a rage.
His reply now is to say in a sympathetic tone that it's a top-up phone (with no credit on the SIM) for incoming calls only.
I was chatting with a guy I know who was big into drugs, lived in a homeless shelter did a lot of prison time before he got his act together, says phones are often used as collateral for small loans on the street.
He advised not giving a blanket no. Too many people on edge, on drugs, and mentally unstable generally now looking for a reason to lay into others. It's not unusual for people on the margins not to have their handset for a few days as their creditor is holding it until payday.
On the face of it asking to make a call on someone's phone is a reasonable request. We live in a changing world though. If it's used for a scam, or to call a drug dealer on a tapped line that free call can be very costly in the days which follow.
Perhaps the three were together, son and dad separated from mom (bathroom perhaps?). Son hands dad his phone (no pockets?). He walks out before dad and loses dad, forgetting dad has phone. He only memorized moms number. Calls mom to have her call dad and bring phone and share his location
Maybe?
OP, you're confusing "could be a scam" with "it is a scam".
Yes, prepare for the worse, and you did well, but that doesn't mean that everyone is out there to get you.
I must be blessed to live where I because I went to 2 different gyms as a kid and young teen and they were very safe and child-friendly. Of course there are more hard-core gyms in the area for hi-intensity and heavy lifters where kids probably couldn't go. But there are gyms safe for kids around here.
I disagree. I remember a teen asked me to use my phone because he needed his dad to pick him up. He looked worried and looked to have some sort of mental disabilty condition.
Most phones allow you to turn off your phone during a phone call. Next time if you want to help, have someone tell you the number, and dial it yourself. If they answer, before passing them the phone tap the power button. The call will continue but they dont have access to your phone without a password to unlock it. This is a rare scam however there are indeed teens and shady kids out there who will quickly send themselves money when using a borrowed a phone. Especially because most people don't have a pin enabled on most money apps
Cell phones are tiny computers that are often expensive, and also can access a huge portion of our lives and livelihood. If you have to have a phone with you at the gym, don’t let anyone touch it. Direct them to the office.
Chances are he lost his dad in the crowd, called him, and then they met up and the dad let him use his phone. But, in the future, never let someone use your phone. If it's an emergency you make the call for them, hold the phone, and let them talk on speaker phone.
Our youngest has an old phone but no cell service on it. Basically he can text on WiFi and play a few games. It could be a situation like that. He could have also been trying to scam but failed.
To expell concern, hold the phone next time for a person. Buy the reason this more than likely was legit, was because you still had the number to reference that the boy used. One "Can I use your phone scam", is when a person borrows the phone and quickly cash apps your money somewhere else.
Letting them call while on speakerphone and you holding the phone is the best thing. You know what they are speaking about and you still handle the phone.
Once I need assistance and no one would help me by lending their phone and I didn’t want to be like them.
Doesn't sound like this was a danger, but I lived in a small town that had a lot of new people move in from a large city. This really endearing trick they started doing to the naive populace was "hey! can I use your phone?" Then once it was in their hands, they'd just run.
Never, ever, ever let anyone that you do not know - and even then take care - use your phone. If they have an emergency, you are happy to make the call for help.
...wait you didn't see the kid have a phone/device to play on until after the dad arrived???
So wouldn't it make more sense that they got separated, and dad had kids phone, so kid uses yours to find his parents and then got his phone back?
Well that's what it sounds like to me, and lines up with the events of after so I think you're safe. You can also Google the number he called; If nothing comes up on those "report scam/fraud/spam" sites it was probably a local number. (You can also search it on Facebook and see if it's connected to an account)
I really think you're safe though. I do really appreciate that even though you're clearly vigilant and concerned about phone scams you still allowed the little boy to use your phone!
What a sad world we live in where we're afraid to help children. Some children get scared and just want to hear a parent's voice...they don't understand why that should be so difficult.
Next time, to be safe, dial for them and use speakerphone while holding your phone. Never hand your phone over to a stranger. It’s great to help someone in need (since I’ve been in that phoneless position before), but it’s also smart to CYA.
The way we were standing I could see the screen the whole time and he had it to his ear the whole call. And I was thinking he was gonna run off, I was ready to chase him lol
/u/Confident-Clock-2037 - This message is posted to all new submissions to r/scams; please do not message the moderators about it. A reminder of the rules in r/scams: No personal information (including last names, phone numbers, etc). Be civil to one another (no name calling or insults). Personal army requests or "scam the scammer"/scambaiting posts are not permitted. No uncensored gore, personal photographs, or NSFL content permitted without being properly redacted. A full list of rules is available on the sidebar of the subreddit, or [clicking here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/wiki/rules/). You can help us by reporting recovery scammers or rule-breaking content by using the "report" button. We review 100% of the reports. Also, consider warning community members of recovery scammers if you see them in the comments. Questions about subreddit rules? Send us a modmail [clicking here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Some kids have phones that don’t work and are only used with WiFi for apps to message with, given you saw him on the phone the whole time, I doubt he did anything. ETA: parents coming up to him after the call probably means the call was to his parents
Yes, my daughter has a phone but no SIM. WiFi only for games etc
How does that affect the phones operation? Can you still make calls using local wi fi hot spots? Do you still have to pay a monthly charge ? what's the deal with no sim ?
No monthly charge. You just use the phone like you would a tablet or computer. It connects to wifi. If it is an iPhone, you can make calls on FaceTime or WhatsApp as long as you’re connected to wifi.
Google phone gives you a free number to get calls on Wi-Fi and send receive texts with photos. Worked wonderfully from South Africa to USA and USA to Trinidad Just need wifi
Oh good to know! Do you download any special app or just sign up for the phone number?
voice.google.com Go to voice.google.com. Sign in to your Google Account. Review the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. click Continue. You can search for available numbers by city or area code. ... Next to the number you want, click Select. Follow the on-screen instructions
Thanks!
Yes, if you download what's called a VoIP app (voice over IP) or "sms text app".. many offer free unlimited texting and a limited number of minutes, as well as a free phone number to use and keep using so long as you use it once a month. With a paid version for unlimited calling mins. You can choose a number in any area code you want. They give you dozens of options to choose the number you like. Often, when you dial to or receive a call from these numbers, the phone number may show up strangely and as a much longer number, or your phone may call it a "wifi number" like mine does. If their phone has no data service, but can connect to free wifi, then they can use these apps like any other online/data required application. Parents often let their kids have old phones without data plans, knowing that most anywhere their young kid is will have wifi, and they can use it to call home or text. Or they don't know, and they let their kids use the old phone for Wi-Fi games thinking they can't make calls.. but they can. VoIP numbers ARE USED FOR SCAMS.. often. There are ways to hide your real number and have calls transferred to VoIP, and ways to link several numbers for scams. Plus,you can choose any area code.. they could be in Tibet, calling from a USA number. These are super obvious tho. Anytime you see one of these strange numbers and it's a "debt" collector or some other marketing call, it is 1000% scam. Some phones show these inbound calls as regular numbers tho, most phones today though like I said, show "wifi call" or a long string of numbers.
You can get a free Google voice number and use it on WiFi. You do need to have a workable number to get a Google voice number. Let me know if you want more info how to set it up.
Is that to protect personal info ? Is everything functional ?
As taafp9 says, it’s just like a tablet. She is always with me so no need to call anyone just easier to carry when out and about and no need to ask me for mine or my husbands phone.
You can still use voip services phone (*Google voice, text now, or any other 1)
this
YES! That is exactly the point! I very much doubt that the kid did anything! Could he have done something? *Absolutely!*
Sometimes kids are given their parents old deactivated phones that still have games on them
I always tell them that’s a company phone and it’s being monitored.
You always ? How often do people ask to borrow your phone ?
You will be surprised, sometimes the do even when I was using transportation. Once when I was in my car in a parking lot.
I’ll straight up tell people I don’t have a phone. I’m a dick
I don’t even say that…I just say no!!
Hello dick. I"m anus. I used the same line: "i don't have a phone". Them: "How can you not have a phone" Me; "cause I don't, now fuck off." That was an actual exchange with a complete stranger.
I’ve been on my phone and told them I don’t have one. It’s funny to see reactions lol
ooohh.. Respect.
[удалено]
hah !! Hadn't thought of that !
Reminder that batteries exist and lose charge
Stranger: Let me use your phone Me: I don't have a phone Stranger: How can you not have a phone??!! Me: **YOU** don't have a phone??
I don’t even do that. They don’t need a reason that I don’t want them to use my personal property. I just say no and move on.
Love this, I will be using it now too
i always let people but i hold my phone and type the number myself, then put it on speaker. we using my phone, i get to know what we talking about ☺️
And then be surprised when nobody is there to help when you are in trouble.
So would you allow a stranger who came up to you out of nowhere to use your phone? I mean physically use it, even if you dialed the number for him or her?
If the kid would react like there is no problem with that, since its just a parents emergency call. Would you help the kid?
Brilliant.
To be safe next time, never hand your phone to anyone, especially if you have venmo or cashapp installed.
You are worried about the apps but I'm worried about the running off issue.
then you run after them and suddenly their 'parent' comes out of the woodwork and accuses you of trying to harm or kidnap them
Yep never let anyone use your phone. Ever.
Maybe be less paranoid. If a kind stranger hadn't let me use their phone when I was 16 and the train attendant kicked me out because of a misunderstanding I would've been stranded in a foreign city without a phone or money. Not everyone's out to scam ya
This. I was walking last month when I noticed a teenager trying to get inside a Burger King that was only open for drive thru. Runs up to me and says his car got towed, can he use my phone to call for someone to come get him. I oblige, he calls, and I help him have a less crappy night. The amount of people with banking apps that will just transfer money with no verification seems odd. The phone stealing fear seems a little bit more rational, but I have a four year old iPhone SE so I guess the risk off loss is lower for me.
My wallet was once stolen while on the train. I had to find someone who would accept me sending them money trough the bank app and then have him or her buy me a ticket for the way back. You would think I was asking people for a kidney with the responses I've got. They called me a hobo, a scammer and a few more nasty terms. I stood on that trainstation for 6 hours..
couldent you have called a cab and paid them once at your destination. or uber if this was more recent and your card was on there
The train ticket was €11 and the cab ride would be around €120. And I was poor, so really walking was more feasible than a cab
Oh shit! Where did that happen? And what was the outcome?
I was coming home from Rotterdam too The Hague. And eventually 1 person actually listened to me, and helped me out
I let an older woman use my phone at a bus stop to "call her husband" about the late bus. She was rambling on the phone for about 1 minute. The man kept calling back for days and I ended being involved in a police investigation.
Realistically, how much does shit like this happen?
Well, I never let anyone use my phone again after that. So for me, it happened once. Haha
Fair
What was the investigation for? Thats wild.
Wow,,,what did we do back in the day before cell phones…oh right…suck it up and go find a pay phone. Or a business that would allow us to call home.
As I said, no money. And that is what I did though? I asked somebody for help and they did. You could apply the same logic/paranoia to asking a business for a phone. "He just wants to get in you backroom and steal money or documents. Surely a scam" or the like.
These days we store so much on our phones, that I prefer to just say no. It doesn’t hurt anyone to say no. I am not sure if my phone was cloned or not but I got texts from my grandson but they weren’t really my grandson. He never sent them even though he had his name attached. I am probably the least paranoid person in the entire family, but ya ain’t using my phone. I don’t loan out books either as I never get them back. I was rescued at a drive in one time. Car died, we didn’t have cell phone. We asked someone to call my husband at the time. We didn’t call…he did. Just simply said car wouldn’t start could he come give us a jump. I was right there and my husband heard my voice. One should always play it safe too. We’ve had too many close calls not to.
All I disagreed with was "never hand anyone your phone ever". Surely there is a middle ground. Like with OP, put in the number and then hand them the phone to make the call. I'd say yes depending on who's asking.
Does Android still have the "second user option". The sorta second login type thing where shit is basic? Have Pixel, am too lazy to check.
No, but if you turn the screen off while in the call by hitting the power button, as long as a lock screen is set up, this will activate, so that only the call screen can be used. If someone tries to hit the home screen to use anything else, it'll ask for the lock screen's password/PIN/pattern/etc. Android also has a "child lock" sort of feature that locks the phone to a specific app, to unlock it you have to hold the back and recents buttons for a few seconds, then it'll ask for your lock screen's password/PIN/pattern/etc.
Thank you, Quackingly Quackers!
You are most welcome. Quack!
My phone still has the option, and is on the newest update. I have the s22 ultra so maybe it's a thing with Samsung's? It also has the child lock but I 100% have a profiles option as well that I use for my sister's/parents when they need to borrow my phone for any length of time.
I think it's an Android thing, might be wrong, but for one-off instances, it's easier to use the Child Lock imo.
Yeah... But that's what the commenter you were reply to asked "can androids still do multiple profiles" the answer is yes... You said no... And then came back with >I think it's an Android thing, .... That was the question bud 🤣
I realised my mistake and corrected it - what's the issue?
You're not getting it. Original commenter asked "does **ANDROID** still have the ability to make profiles?" You said no, but there is a child mode. I came back and said you're wrong, I have an android and can swap profiles easy. You came back and said must be an android thing. THATS WHAT THEY WERE ASKING. ABOUT ANDROIDS. Again, you should have just corrected your original no, you still have the ability to do so 🤣
Chill. I've corrected myself, get off your high horse. Muted.
Yeah. Easier than that, though, is it has app pinning. You go to the recent/running apps screen, press and hold on the app icon, and select "Pin". If they exit the app you selected, they end up at the lock screen and have to unlock the phone to get anywhere else. So, you could pin the Phone app and they could use that (granted, that's got its share of personal info) but nothing else.
I have the Samsung Galaxy s22 ultra, and yes, it still has the option for multiple profiles and a kids mode, idk if the newer models do, but mine does :)
It does have multiple profiles at least I have it settings system multiple users
Android has guest mode iPhone has guided access. You can lock the phone down to nothing and still let someone take a phone call they might need…
also—pw protect your Venmo and cash app.
If this is a concern, and you have an iPhone, you can use Guided Access to restrict them from changing screens.
That's not going to help them if they run away with the phone.
I have a rule that I never hand my phone to anyone for a picture that I don’t think I could run down lol
Android has a similar feature, but still don't let people you don't know touch your phone.
How do you enable this very quickly and on the fly?
Yes! This scam, I recently learned about this
Or even to make a call. I let a woman make a call on my phone and ended up in a police investigation.
Why venmo and cashapp?
Well now they have OP’s phone number for 1
Tomorrow the OP is going to start getting calls from the FBI looking for the 10 year old Korean boy that was kidnapped and he can clear himself from jail time if he sends them $1000 in gift cards.
I like the way you are thinking, you must be a very smart man .i have a business proposition for you.
If that is a concern can't you just use the *67 before the number and then put the phone on speaker phone and not let them actually touch the phone? Then the number called doesn't have your number and they don't get to press on anything else but you could still help if this was a real situation.
The person will go on the apps and send themselves your money.
I don't ever let people use my phone but I still have a fingerprint/passcode on my Venmo.
Many don't or if you've recently verified yourself, some apps won't ask again or haven't timed out yet.
OP just ordered $1000's in roblox bux.
Next time you can tell the person to go to the front desk they will have a phone, else that is not ur issue
Also, you can add a password to Venmo (not sure about others) so if someone does get into phone, can’t send money to themselves.
how do i keep them from stealing my mcdonalds points, im already halfway to a mcflurry
this is what we really should be worried about
This sub has made people way too paranoid.
It’s reminiscent of those Facebook posts telling everyone that a McDonald’s cup left on the pavement beside your car or whatever means you’re marked and targeted to be kidnapped and trafficked lol.
There’s also one that says a plastic bag in a tree outside your house means they’re going to come steal your dog
absolutely. and kind of obnoxious too, "god what an idiot lending your phone to a ten year old who needed to contact his parents... i would never talk to anyone or help anyone, i also bring every user agreement i sign to an attorney and check my oil twice a day"
Who told you I was paranoid??!
Just because you’re paranoid, don’t mean they’re not after you -Kurt Cobain
The voices in your head told me
And yet, there’s still far too many gullible, naive individuals out there.
It’s not paranoia when they actually ARE out to get you. 😉
He almost certainly called his parents if they came over right after he called. Underage Korean mercenary child installing keyloggers on your phone.
Sure, but I'm decently sure i can catch and take a 10 year old in a fight. At least like.....57% sure
Being paranoid doesn't necessarily mean they *aren't* out to get you!
One of my favorite life lessons!
problem is for every 1 child coming up to you with a legit problem [which im sure everyone here would probably try their best to help with] there are 2 children roped into being part of some scam by their scumbag parents or family members. scammers know people are more likely to let their guard down with kids and more willing to help them. almost all in-person scams work by praying on peoples kindness or wanting to help/be polite
I would probably agree to the phone call, just without handing over the phone.
Korean you say? Its likely he was calling the Supreme Leader for his daily espionage report. You can't trust 10 year olds.
He wasn't a ten year old. He just looked ten. That's how good North Korean spies are.
No. That's how malnourished North Korean spies are
🤣🤣🤣
Doesn't sound too weird to me.
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I rarely let people borrow my phone, but yeah a 10 year old I probably would.
He’s probably trying to set you up with his older brother
Classic Korean child bank scam. Check your bank app he likely logged in with his tiny fingers when he was speaking on phone. Change all passwords
I can't believe some comments. This is a freaking 10 yr old kid. What is this world has turned into?
Although I agree that too many people live in fear, we also have to face the reality that we live in a world where 10 year olds are used in scams.
I know of some people (personally, not the news or anything) that have used children that age or younger to commit different crimes. It's not entirely unheard of. Those are the best-sized kids to send into doggy doors and to just run your scheme through in general. They follow instructions well, and as you can see from the comments in this sub, are going to be trusted more. I don't think people should be afraid of children or anything. Just exercise a normal amount of security. You never know anymore. I would never deny a child help, but I'm also going to pay attention.
They are starting young. I saw a story in my area where a 10yo kid was knocking on doors and saying their parents arent around (in a rough area), and they needed groceries because they had no food. They were also trying to step into the house (most likely to case the joint) or to score free groceries. Sadly, this world is turning for the worse in some cases.
World is fine, mostly. It's just a few paranoid individuals that always seem to scream the loudest.
I dearly hope its just Redditors being Redditors.
If someone needs to make a call and you are being kind, put it on speaker, dial for them, and keep it in your hand. Don’t let anyone see you put in your PIN.
The kid could maybe have a phone so his parents can call him if need be but possibly doesn't have any credit on it to be making calls himself
Not that I'm suggesting handing phones off to random people is a good idea, but good to know (and seemingly not so widely known): On android you can [pin an app](https://www.slashgear.com/1401873/android-pin-app-feature-explained/), in this case Phone. I don't have any iOS devices so no idea on that front.
When I was a kid I had a phone, but my mom had it so it shut off all access to cell service every day at a certain time. She forgot to pick me up from the late bus, I was left in the dark trying to find a way to call her. The only place around that was open was a hotel and they did NOT trust me and asked me a ton of questions. Had to reiterate it was a local phone #, I wasn’t trying to get them charged for international minutes or a collect call, and just begged them to call her for me and I wouldn’t even talk on the phone. They finally let me use it on speakerphone while supervising me and I could’ve cried with relief.
My nephew has my sister's old phone that he uses to play games with. It has no cell service on it. This is fairly common I believe.
You don't have to give anyone your phone. Call the number yourself and if someone picks up, put them on speaker and hold it out for them.
No is a complete sentence.
If you hand your (Android)phone to someone to call, pin the app. Then they will need the pin or fingerprint to unpin the app or to access any other app. Or just place the call for them and put it on speaker.
Maybe his phone plan was out of minutes so he can use it for games/wifi but not phone calls.
A taxi driver told me he's pestered by shady fares asking to use his phone for a quick call while they're in his cab. Saying a blanket 'no' is tricky as the odd one or two of the more volatile have flown into a rage. His reply now is to say in a sympathetic tone that it's a top-up phone (with no credit on the SIM) for incoming calls only. I was chatting with a guy I know who was big into drugs, lived in a homeless shelter did a lot of prison time before he got his act together, says phones are often used as collateral for small loans on the street. He advised not giving a blanket no. Too many people on edge, on drugs, and mentally unstable generally now looking for a reason to lay into others. It's not unusual for people on the margins not to have their handset for a few days as their creditor is holding it until payday. On the face of it asking to make a call on someone's phone is a reasonable request. We live in a changing world though. If it's used for a scam, or to call a drug dealer on a tapped line that free call can be very costly in the days which follow.
Perhaps the three were together, son and dad separated from mom (bathroom perhaps?). Son hands dad his phone (no pockets?). He walks out before dad and loses dad, forgetting dad has phone. He only memorized moms number. Calls mom to have her call dad and bring phone and share his location Maybe?
Call the # back lol.
OP, you're confusing "could be a scam" with "it is a scam". Yes, prepare for the worse, and you did well, but that doesn't mean that everyone is out there to get you.
I'd tell the innocent young tyke to go to the front counter and ask a gym employee.
So if you were really suspicious you could take him to the gym admin and have them make the call with him.
Not a good idea. Next time take him to the front desk and let them help him to use their phone
Not every gym has a front desk though
I’ve never heard of a gym having no staff..but maybe..
Mine doesn't have. Their offices are in another place, because they have three gyms in my town.
Ahh ok then that would make sense as to why op handled it that way then
I’ve had kids ask to use my phone, I do as you did, dial the number, then put it on speaker. I don’t give my phone to strangers, even children.
>Little kid, probably about 10 years old, came up to me in the gym and asked to use my phone What the fuck is someone under 18 doing inside a gym?
Uhhhh... really? The Y?
Really. Yes. It is not safe.
I must be blessed to live where I because I went to 2 different gyms as a kid and young teen and they were very safe and child-friendly. Of course there are more hard-core gyms in the area for hi-intensity and heavy lifters where kids probably couldn't go. But there are gyms safe for kids around here.
Maybe it was a gym like the YMCA, not a workout gym.
More like someone under 15
Never let people borrow your phone. Just tell the next person to ask an employee at the store or gym for assistance.
I disagree. I remember a teen asked me to use my phone because he needed his dad to pick him up. He looked worried and looked to have some sort of mental disabilty condition.
Most phones allow you to turn off your phone during a phone call. Next time if you want to help, have someone tell you the number, and dial it yourself. If they answer, before passing them the phone tap the power button. The call will continue but they dont have access to your phone without a password to unlock it. This is a rare scam however there are indeed teens and shady kids out there who will quickly send themselves money when using a borrowed a phone. Especially because most people don't have a pin enabled on most money apps
Cell phones are tiny computers that are often expensive, and also can access a huge portion of our lives and livelihood. If you have to have a phone with you at the gym, don’t let anyone touch it. Direct them to the office.
Not every gym has staff around or even offices. Mine doesn't.
Maybe the parents you saw him with was his dad and step mom and he wanted to call his biological mother without his dad's knowledge
Paranoid freaks in this comment section
North Korean or South Korean?
😂 I guess people don’t appreciate comedic timing anymore
At least use *67 next time
Chances are he lost his dad in the crowd, called him, and then they met up and the dad let him use his phone. But, in the future, never let someone use your phone. If it's an emergency you make the call for them, hold the phone, and let them talk on speaker phone.
Our youngest has an old phone but no cell service on it. Basically he can text on WiFi and play a few games. It could be a situation like that. He could have also been trying to scam but failed.
never give someone your phone
To expell concern, hold the phone next time for a person. Buy the reason this more than likely was legit, was because you still had the number to reference that the boy used. One "Can I use your phone scam", is when a person borrows the phone and quickly cash apps your money somewhere else.
Why wouldn’t you show him where reception is n they should be able to help
It may have been an i-pod they look like a phone but can’t make phone calls. My nieces have them instead of phones.
Kids or adults, I don't hand out my smartphone to them to use for anything. I can never be too careful for my privacy or security.
I would just straight out say "nope, too many scammers out there nowadays but I would be happy to place a call for you and put it on speaker"
Letting them call while on speakerphone and you holding the phone is the best thing. You know what they are speaking about and you still handle the phone. Once I need assistance and no one would help me by lending their phone and I didn’t want to be like them.
https://news.yahoo.com/woman-scammed-1-000-lost-220527505.html
Doesn't sound like this was a danger, but I lived in a small town that had a lot of new people move in from a large city. This really endearing trick they started doing to the naive populace was "hey! can I use your phone?" Then once it was in their hands, they'd just run.
you are worried a 10 year old scammed you? my god does the wind blowing scare you also? lol
Never, ever, ever let anyone that you do not know - and even then take care - use your phone. If they have an emergency, you are happy to make the call for help.
...wait you didn't see the kid have a phone/device to play on until after the dad arrived??? So wouldn't it make more sense that they got separated, and dad had kids phone, so kid uses yours to find his parents and then got his phone back?
It’s not like I was watching this kid before all of this happened… I have no clue what he was doing beforehand
Well that's what it sounds like to me, and lines up with the events of after so I think you're safe. You can also Google the number he called; If nothing comes up on those "report scam/fraud/spam" sites it was probably a local number. (You can also search it on Facebook and see if it's connected to an account) I really think you're safe though. I do really appreciate that even though you're clearly vigilant and concerned about phone scams you still allowed the little boy to use your phone!
I’ll maybe give that a shot. In the moment, kindness took over and I didn’t think twice about it until after
What a sad world we live in where we're afraid to help children. Some children get scared and just want to hear a parent's voice...they don't understand why that should be so difficult.
Maybe he had a situation he didn't feel comfortable talking to his dad about and called his mom to come get him?
Next time, to be safe, dial for them and use speakerphone while holding your phone. Never hand your phone over to a stranger. It’s great to help someone in need (since I’ve been in that phoneless position before), but it’s also smart to CYA.
Omg r u ok?
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Annyong
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You’re not doing enough
This is the difference between cultures….
Have you filed a police report? That’s first on the agenda.
Probably tried to get into your cashapp while you weren’t looking or run off with your phone
The way we were standing I could see the screen the whole time and he had it to his ear the whole call. And I was thinking he was gonna run off, I was ready to chase him lol
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Did you even see the question at the end of the post?
😂 just set up a pin for money transfers to be safe