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Warning over new WhatsApp scam where parents are targeted by ‘their own children’
A prominent UK sports commentator, presenter, and broadcaster is urging others to stay alert after her mother was targeted in a new WhatsApp scam.
In a bid to warn as many people as possible, Jacqui Oatley MBE took to Twitter to share screenshots of WhatsApp messages on her mum’s phone that appear to have been sent by her.
The star, who currently works for Sky Sports and has worked for BBC Sport, ITV Sport and several radio channels in the past, warned people to look out for the ‘incredibly believable’ scam.
The clever messages almost scammed Jacqui’s ‘lovely, kind mum’ out of £2,291, before their ‘terrible’ grammar alerted her suspicion.
Several people have since been sharing screenshots of similar messages with the con artists.
The messages typically begin with either ‘Hi Mum’ or ‘Hi Dad’. The scammer says they are messaging from a different, unknown phone because they have lost or damaged their own.
Preying on emotions, the fraudster pretends they are in trouble and need their parent’s help.
Read more: There’s finally a solution for finding out if you’ve been email scammed
In the case of Jacqui’s mum, the scammer engaged in small talk before saying said they had had the ‘worse day ever’ and that they were ‘stressed’, asking if she could pay off some bills.
Jacqui shared the screenshots with the message: “I’m keen to warn you about a scam which my lovely, kind mum so nearly fell for. It was incredibly believable.
“Someone pretends to be you but on a different number, contacts someone close to you and asks them to quickly pay a bill for you before you pay them back.”
Someone else shared a similar exchange where the scammer claimed the victim’s daughter had dropped their phone down the toilet to account for the unknown number.
Independent charity Victim Support said: “WhatsApp impersonator scams see fraudsters posing as a loved one needing financial help. They’re really difficult to spot, and can be really convincing, especially if the scammer has access to your messages.”
Featured Image – Unsplash
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Channel 4 is looking for Mancs who think they can survive the apocalypse for a new TV series
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Have you always wanted to see how long you’d last in an apocalypse?
Well now’s your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part.
The casting call simply reads: “Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?”
Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.
In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city – used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare – with no food, running water, electricity or heat.
Produced by The Garden – which is part of ITV Studios – for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on Mancs and people up and down the country with the ‘courage and ingenuity’ to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.
Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.
Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let’s prove what Mancs are made of.
Read more:
Applications close on Sunday 4 October 2026 at midnight, and you must be 18 or above, with a valid UK or ROI passport, to enter.
Find out more and apply here.
Featured Image – Matthew Salacuse / Channel 4
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Hundreds of katsu curries are being given out for FREE in Manchester this week
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of katsu curries are being dished up and given out for free in Manchester this week, but only for certain people.
And those lucky people will be students.
That’s right… a new semester is upon us, and thousands of freshers and returning students are descending on the city and Manchester‘s many universities for another year. But the life of a student isn’t exactly the cheapest sometimes, especially for those who haven’t had to live on a budget before moving out or into halls.
But to make things a little easier, Tampopo has announced it’ll be serving hundreds of one of its most popular dishes for free this week.
Tampopo is celebrating National Katsu Curry Day in the most delicious way possible, by giving away 700 Katsu Curries with rice for free, exclusively to freshers and students this Sunday (27 September).
Whether you’re brand new to the city, settling back into uni life, or you’re simply in need of a katsu fix, students can head to their nearest participating Tampopo and tuck into a hearty meal without needing to spend a penny.
100 katsu curries will be available each from 12-2pm at both Tampopo restaurants in Manchester city centre – which are on Albert Square, and in the Corn Exchange – or if you head over to the Trafford Centre, both the Tampopo there and the East Street sites are taking part.
“[Our] Katsu Curry has long been one of our most-loved dishes, so National Katsu Curry Day felt like the perfect excuse to give students a proper welcome to the new academic year,” Tampopo said in a statement.
Read more:
So, are you feeling hungry then? The offer is exclusively available for takeaway only to freshers and students with a valid student ID, which they must present on collection.
100 portions are available at each participating location, and just one free katsu curry with rice will be available per person.
Get ready to tuck in, you lot.
Featured Image – Supplied
Daisy Jackson -
15th July 2022 
