With WhatsApp scammers on the rise, most of us will usually ignore or block strange texts from random numbers.
But when broadcaster Maia Dunphy received a weird message from an unknown person claiming to be her son, she decided to have some fun with it. The Dubliner decided to turn the tables and trolled the scammer with increasingly unhinged messages that have left us in absolute stitches.
It all started when the well-known Irish TV producer received a text saying: "Mum, I am texting you on my new phone because my old phone is broken. Could you send me a message on WhatsApp so I can text you from my new phone?"
Read more: Maia Dunphy thanks public after retrieving handbag belonging to her late mother
Maia shared a screenshot of the text on Twitter with the caption: "All sorts of scams these days. No idea what this one is after?!" In a separate tweet, Maia said she decided to "text my new child back".
Maia, who saved the fraudster's number as "Scammy", wrote: "Just got your text pet, is everything ok? Mum x" to which the scammer replied: "I'm still transferring all the apps to the new phone".
Quickly spotting the scam, Maia replied: "Well, you know that Monday is the day I go out nicking jocks off random washing lines, and it was a sunny day today so I'm only just home. Is everything ok?"
To which Scammy replied: "Ok. Yes, I'm fine. You can delete the old number and save this one."
Curious to see where things would go, Maia then replied: "Ok. Will you be home at the weekend? Jim brought home that deer he ran over, so we're going to barbecue it if the weather's nice."
Scammy told her: "Yes, I'm coming. I'm a bit frustrated today." After Maia asked why, he then said: "Because of that new device. I have to transfer all the apps but the banking app has put a 48-hour security on the app due to the new phone. But I have to pay two payments. Very annoying because I can't do anything about it."
Deciding to have to some fun, Maia said: "Oh no? Can the nuns not help you?" The non-existent nuns couldn't help Maia's "son" and he claimed he would be able to pay the money back tomorrow.
Ramping things up, Maia then replied: "Well, I don't mind if you pawn that religious relic I gave you? Once we have it back by June."
Persistent Scammy responded: "Yes. Can you help me with this payment?"
At this point, Maia decided to crank up the lunacy, with her next message reading: "I'll try. I got a pair of quite badly skid marked Calvin Kleins off a line today, and I think Brenda would pay a premium. How can I transfer the money? How much do you need?"
Undeterred, slippery Scammy sent a laughing emoji before again asking if he should forward payment details. Maia asked how much he needed and he said €921.
In response, Maia hilariously wrote: "That's very specific. is this for your gas bill? Have you been cremating people's pets without a licence again?"
Scammy explained that he had supposedly bought a laptop, with the TV presenter, firing back: "But you have a laptop? The FP Laugh & Learn. Did the nuns take it?"
Plucky Scammy still had his eyes on the prize and again asked our hero if she would pay the money. Maia then asked how she could transfer the money - and that's where Scammy made a fatal error.
He shared bank details with a name included, before quickly deleting the message. Maia joked the name "is NOT my lovely son Scammy’s birth name".
Despite his gaffe, Scammy was not to be deterred and again assured his "mum" he would pay the money back tomorrow. Maia asked why he had changed his name but he ignored this and tried to power through, replying: "That's the payment details. You should put my name in the reference."
Crafty Maia replied: "Ok, so I just put Scammy Hooer in the reference then?" After Scammy said yes, she then sent the stinging response: "Great. I'll do that and then forward all your details to the cyber crime unit of our local police station."
Scammy began to backtrack, with his next text reading: "Is this not mum?" Scammy was on the ropes and Maia wasn't letting him off the hook, with her next message saying: "I don't think it is. Will you still come for the barbecue on Saturday? It's a massive deer? Hello?"
Sharing the last screenshot, Maia said: "And just like that, my child blocked me. Oh how quickly they forget."
People took to the comments to marvel at Maia's quick wit and humour. One person said: "Scammy hooer has finished me. I’m dead."
Another person added: "God bless you. I've been miserable all day, but you've made this 63 yr old Scotswoman howl at 'Scammy hooer'. Genius."
Read next:
Mountjoy governor speaks about 'traumatic' shiv attack on prison officer
'I did the Dublin Bus driver training session- here's what the job takes'
Dubliners warned of 'number one pest threat' to homes and businesses
Eamonn Holmes insists Holly and Philip have 'no chemistry' amid feud rumours
Taoiseach's partner apologises for 'any offence caused' over coronation remarks
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
