In an age where kids are getting their own phones at increasingly younger ages, one mom’s harrowing experience is a stark reminder of the importance of monitoring our children’s phone usage. Kayla, a mother of four and small business owner from Southern Maryland, recently took to TikTok to share about a disturbing phone call she received from a number she didn’t recognize—a call that left her deeply unsettled and compelled her to warn other parents.
A Strange Call Turns Terrifying
Kayla, who goes by the TikTok handle @mama_mess_express, shared the details of her experience in an eight-minute video, describing it as “the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced.” The call came late in the evening from a Chicago-based number. Although Kayla usually doesn’t answer calls from unknown numbers, something made her pick up this time. On the other end was a young girl who claimed to have found Kayla’s number on her business’s Facebook page and was inquiring about ordering a Lilo and Stitch birthday cake.
At first, the call seemed innocent enough—just a child wanting a themed cake for her birthday. But as the conversation continued, things took a troubling turn. The girl mentioned that her mother was in a store and that she was stuck in a car with her mom’s friend, who had taken some medicine and fallen asleep. Sensing that something was off, Kayla told the girl she would stay on the phone with her until her mother returned.
A Growing Sense of Unease
As the conversation went on, the young girl revealed that she was in Chicago, far from Kayla’s location in Maryland. The girl then mentioned that she was hungry and wanted to go into the store for a snack. Kayla, concerned for the child’s safety, advised her to stay in the car and call 911 if she felt unsafe. Despite the warning, the girl ended the call, saying she was going into the store.
Kayla’s worry grew as the night progressed, especially when the girl called back, this time claiming to be at home but saying that her mother was “sleeping” while her mom’s friends were over, making it too loud for her to sleep. Kayla, fully in “mom mode” by this point, tried to get as much information as she could from the girl in case she needed to contact the authorities.
The phone calls continued back and forth, with the girl repeatedly hanging up and calling again. One call consisted of nothing but adults yelling in the background, further increasing Kayla’s alarm. “At this point, I’m about to throw up,” Kayla said, describing the overwhelming anxiety she felt as she tried to figure out what to do.
@mama_mess_express PSA 📣 CHECK YOUR KIDS PHONES!! #fyp #missingkids #phonesafety #phones #humantraffickingawarenes #kidnapping #safetytips ♬ original sound – Kayla ✨
Seeking Help in a Scary Situation
Unsure if she was the victim of a scam or if a child was genuinely in danger, Kayla decided to take action. She first reached out to her local sheriff’s department, but they advised her to contact law enforcement in Chicago, given the location of the call. As the night wore on, Kayla managed to get the child’s name, address, and other details necessary to send help.
Determined to ensure the child’s safety, Kayla spent the following morning trying to find out how to get help. She contacted the girl’s school, filed a full report with the local Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and continued to do everything in her power to assist the authorities in locating the child and ensuring her well-being.
