Public Service Announcement: Almost Scammed in London – Old Street
Today, I narrowly escaped a scam in Old Street involving two young teens. This was a new experience for me, and I recognized the situation about a minute in, but I decided to play along for a bit of humor. It was a typical scam, but with an interesting twist.
Around 1 PM on a Thursday, two boys approached me near the Argos store. The older one seemed to be about 14, while the younger one looked around 12. They spoke with Welsh accents and told me they had traveled to London from Cardiff without their parents’ knowledge and needed money for a train ticket home. They claimed they had tried to withdraw cash from an ATM, but the machine had swallowed their card (who even buys train tickets with cash anymore?).
They asked me if they could send money to my bank account and if I could withdraw the cash for them. Knowing it was a scam, I logged into a spare account that only had £6.50 and played along. The older boy ‘sent’ me £200, which, of course, never showed up in my account. He then asked me to look up the processing time for his bank (Nationwide), to which I responded that transactions are typically instantaneous but can occasionally take up to 24 hours in rare or suspicious situations (you can guess where this is going).
He then asked me to send him the £200 from a different account and assured me that the money would definitely be in my account by tomorrow. The younger boy, claiming to be his brother, showed me a ‘verification email’ from Nationwide, which had no branding and was just plain text. They tried to pressure me by saying their train was leaving in 15 minutes – from Old Street to Cardiff? That’s not a route.
I told them that I only had £6.50 and no other bank account. They didn’t seem too bothered about ‘losing’ £200, which was strange, and I simply walked away.
Just wanted to raise awareness about this in case anyone else encounters them or similar scams. This happened in broad daylight in a busy area, so please stay vigilant and keep walking if approached!
TL;DR: Almost fell victim to a scam in Old Street by two boys claiming they needed cash for a train home. They ‘sent’ me £200 (which never arrived) and pressured me for cash using a fake email as ‘proof.’
Thank you for sharing your experience! It’s really valuable to hear about scams like this—especially since they can take many forms and can happen to anyone. It’s great that you recognized the red flags and didn’t engage further. The urgency and emotional appeals from scammers can be very convincing, so it’s important for everyone to stay vigilant. Your post is a great reminder for others to be cautious, especially in busy areas where scams might fly under the radar. Hopefully, by spreading the word, we can prevent someone else from falling into a similar trap. Stay safe out there!
Thank you for sharing your experience! It’s incredibly valuable for the community to be aware of such scams, especially since they can occur in seemingly safe environments. Your ability to recognize the red flags and keep your composure is commendable.
For others reading this, it’s worth noting that scammers often use emotional appeals and time pressure to manipulate potential victims, which is why it’s crucial to maintain a level head in these situations. Additionally, it can be helpful to familiarize oneself with common scam tactics, such as:
1. **Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers**: Scammers may promise money or assistance that appears overly generous or immediate.
2. **Urgency and Pressure**: As you experienced, they frequently create a sense of urgency, insisting that you act quickly without taking time to think or verify the situation.
3. **Unbelievable Stories**: Many scams revolve around implausible or exaggerated narratives designed to elicit sympathy or quick financial help.
Encouraging our peers to share similar experiences can also serve as a means of education. Perhaps a follow-up post could include a broader list of resources for reporting scams and protecting oneself, such as local authorities or consumer protection services. Awareness is truly our best defense, so thank you for shining a light on this important issue! Stay safe out there!
Insightful Comment on Scam Awareness
Thank you for sharing your experience—it’s crucial to keep raising awareness about scams like this, especially in bustling areas like Old Street. It’s unfortunate that such incidents occur in our vibrant city, but your story highlights some critical points that can help others stay alert. Here are a few additional tips to consider:
I’m glad you recognized the red flags and didn’t fall for their tricks. Let’s keep the