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If you see these three words in a text message you’re probably being scammed

Home> Life

Published 12:18 14 Oct 2024 GMT+1

If you see these three words in a text message you’re probably being scammed

Alarm bells should be ringing if you see this three-word phrase in a message

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle

The modern age of technology brings with it many exciting things - social media to stay connected with all your mates, internet banking to save you a trip to the high street, and online shopping to do away with the chaos of a shopping centre.

However, with modern technology comes modern crime, like online scamming which has targeted a whopping 73% of UK adults, or 40 million people, according to the National Trading Standards.

So, to ensure you don't become one of those unlucky lot who find themselves targeted by scammers, experts have issued a stark warning on three specific words in scam text messages that should ring alarm bells.

There's one three-word phrase you should be incredibly wary of in text messages (Inti St Clair/Getty Images)
There's one three-word phrase you should be incredibly wary of in text messages (Inti St Clair/Getty Images)

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The experts over at Reader's Digest have issued a warning on this seemingly harmless phrase that, apparently, scammers love to use and explained exactly why this trio of words should make you suspicious.

So, what is this phrase?

Well, it's none other than 'would you kindly' and, according to the experts, even the latter word 'kindly' is enough in its own to raise your brows.

Tim Bajarin, a 40-year veteran technology analyst, explains: "The word 'kindly' is simply something we don’t use in our common vernacular in the U.S.

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"You’ll often hear it used in countries with British influence, perhaps once a colonial country, where English isn’t their mother tongue."

He adds: "If you see this word or phrase, it’s a red flag, similar to poor spelling or grammar."

Typos and grammar aren't the only things you need to be wary of (Tim Robberts/Getty Images)
Typos and grammar aren't the only things you need to be wary of (Tim Robberts/Getty Images)

Doug Shadel, founder of the Fraud Prevention Strategies and former Fraud Investigator and Special Assistant to Attorney General’s Office in Washington State also adds that there's more to be wary of than simply certain phrases or typos.

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"Really, any communication that you get that’s unsolicited—whether it’s a text or robocall, social media message or email—should make you highly suspicious," he says.

"If you didn’t initiate this correspondence, chances are it’s a scam."

Shadel went on to warn: "If it’s an 'imposter' message, like someone claiming to be from, say, Bank of America or the IRS, never click on the link or attachment."

He advised: "If you’re not sure if it’s [legit], you should independently log into that account with your own login and password—not what was sent to you—to see if the institution truly was trying to contact you."

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So, you may want to bear all that in mind to make sure you don't end up like one of the 19 million Brits who lose money because of this criminal offence.

Featured Image Credit: Tim Robberts/Getty Images/Inti St Clair/Getty Images

Topics: Advice, Technology, iPhone, Life, Crime

Rhiannon Ingle
Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Senior Journalist at Tyla, specialising in TV, film, travel, and culture. A graduate of the University of Manchester with a degree in English Literature, she honed her editorial skills as the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the UK’s largest student newspaper. With a keen eye for storytelling, Rhiannon brings fresh perspectives to her writing, blending critical insight with an engaging style. Her work captures the intersection of entertainment and real-world experiences.

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