An 80-year-old internet sensation known as Grime Gran is spearheading a crucial new campaign this Christmas, urging Britons to ditch their politeness and hang up on suspicious phone calls. The initiative, launched with telecoms giant EE and etiquette authority Debrett's, reframes modern manners for the digital age, asserting that protecting yourself from fraud is the truly proper thing to do.
A Personal Motive Behind the Campaign
Margie Keefe, the woman behind the Grime Gran persona, revealed her drive to join the fight came from a distressing family experience. Her sister-in-law, who is in her 90s, was recently targeted by criminals who drained her bank account and used the stolen funds to book three flights to Dublin.
"It made her ill, though she was lucky - she did get it back but the cheeky buggers used it to book three flights to Dublin and she was so scared," Margie told The Mirror. The ordeal left her relative shaken, unwell, and living in fear that the scammers might call back. This firsthand view of the damage, particularly to older and more vulnerable people, cemented her resolve to act.
The 'Mind Your Manners' Guide for the Digital World
The campaign, titled Mind Your Manners, is a modern etiquette guide delivered with Grime Gran's trademark blunt humour. It tackles the social embarrassment many feel about ending a call abruptly, clarifying that suspicious callers do not deserve your time or courtesy.
"I don’t sugar-coat things - scammers don’t deserve your time or your manners," Margie stated. "If something feels off, don’t play ball. Simple. This guide gives everyone the confidence to beat the scammers." She shared her own direct tactic: "I don’t engage in conversation with them at all if I get a spam call. If people don’t say ‘hello Margie’ then I don’t say a word. As soon as they speak, I just hang up."
She warned that fraudsters rely on conversation, panic, and guilt to trap their victims. "The more time you’re giving them the more they’re convincing you - if you’re a bit vulnerable, they’re catching you out," she explained.
The Scale of the Threat and EE's Defences
The festive season sees a significant spike in scam calls and texts, as people become more stressed, distracted, and busy with celebrations. In response, EE's network identifies over one million calls a day as potential fraud or spam.
Over the last 12 months, the wider BT Group, which includes EE, has blocked a staggering volume of attacks:
- 1.6 billion attempted attacks on malicious domains.
- 200 million scam texts.
- 61 million scam calls.
- 175 million nuisance and fraud calls were flagged.
Despite these defences, the risk remains high. Rupert Wesson, Director of Debrett's, endorsed the guide's message: "Today, good manners include knowing how to stop a suspicious call or report a strange text. Protecting yourself is not impolite, it’s entirely proper."
With families spending, travelling, and hosting more than ever over Christmas, the campaign hopes Grime Gran's no-nonsense advice will provide a vital guide to shutting down scams and safeguarding hard-earned savings.
