‘Child tried to lure my mum into woods in middle of night – I’m warning others’

Prank calling is something which is often done by kids at sleepovers, but one woman was seriously concerned after her mum received a call trying to lure her into the woods – she was worried it was sinister

One mum has been seriously creeped out after a call to her own mother left her with goosebumps. The woman’s mother was called at three in the morning and was greeted by someone who sounded like her grandson, claiming he was lost in the woods. Understandably, the woman was incredibly concerned and began asking questions.

The woman took to Mumsnet to write what her mum had experienced, expressing her shock and wondering whether others thought that the call was sinister, as she thought whoever had called was trying to lure her unsuspecting mother into the woods – with someone likening the situation to a horror film.

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She wrote: “Sorry bit of a long story. My mum received a phone call on the landline in the dead of night, around 3am. She rushed downstairs to answer thinking one of the family had been in an accident.

“When she answered there was a child on the line (she thinks an older primary school age boy) saying they were lost in a popular local wooded area, could she come and pick them up?

“Apparently they didn’t sound scared and were very matter of fact about it but my mum was really worried about a child being lost and alone in the middle of the night and says against her better judgment she would have left to look for them had her car not been in for repairs.

“According to my mum, this is a transcript of the call, from what she can remember.

“Child- I’m lost down the local wooded area, can you come and pick me up?

“Mum- thinking this was grandson, (Grandson’s name) is that you, are you ok? How did you get down there? Where are your mum and dad?

“Child -I don’t know, I’m lost. Can you pick me up?

“Mum- realising it’s not grandson. What’s your name? Are you hurt? What’s happened? Where are your mum and dad?

“Child- repeats I’m lost and stuck down the local wooded area. Can you come and get me.

“Mum- why didn’t you phone your mum and dad or the police? How did you get my number? I think I’d be better to call the police to come and help look for you.

“Child- hangs up.

“She phoned the police immediately who came round within 30mins and they took a statement then went and had a good look round the woods. No one was there.

“The police came back to my mum’s after checking and asked if anyone would play a prank on her. If she’d fallen out with my one recently or if anyone would have a reason to make a phone call like that. My mum couldn’t think of anyone or any reason.

“They tried to call 1471 and trace the number but it was withheld. Also, the weird thing is my mum’s number is ex-directory so unless they dialed a random number they would have had to know it.

“My mum doesn’t seem too phased by it and has written it off as a prank call but I can’t help being very creeped out by it. I think someone was either trying to lure her down the woods or was checking if she was home. What do you think?”

The post received a mixed response with some agreeing that the phone call did seem sinister.

One wrote: “It does sound like someone was trying to lure her into the woods in the middle of the night, presumably then realised she was planning to call the police and got out of there before they showed up.”

Someone else suggested they may have wanted her out of the house, suggesting: “Or as you said they were checking if she was home or trying to get her out of the house for a certain amount of time so they could break in with a rough idea of how long she’d be out (the amount of time it takes to get to the woods, look round, and come back).”

A Mumsnetter said they were glad the police had looked into it: “Well it’s certainly unusual and I would be unnerved by it too. I’m glad she called the police and had it logged and looked at formally.”

Another likened it to a horror film, writing: “It sounds a bit horror movie style so I bet they had scripted it beforehand. The mention of police probably worried them that they’d be found out.”

What would you have done in this situation? Let us know in the comments.