At a time when children are getting their own cell phones at an increasingly early age, one mother’s harrowing experience is a stark reminder of the importance of monitoring our children’s cell phone usage. Kayla, a mother of four and small business owner from Southern Maryland, recently shared on TikTok a disturbing call she received from an unfamiliar number – a call that left her deeply unsettled and prompted her to warn other parents.

A strange phone call becomes frightening

Kayla, who goes by the TikTok handle @mama_mess_express, detailed 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 number in Chicago. Although Kayla doesn’t usually answer calls from unknown numbers, this time she got something off the hook. On the other end was a young girl who claimed to have found Kayla’s number on her business’s Facebook page and asked for a Lilo and Stitch birthday cake.

At first the call seemed harmless – just a child who Theme cakes for her birthday. But as the conversation continued, things took a disturbing turn. The girl mentioned that her mother was at a store and that she was stuck in a car with her mother’s friend, who had taken her medication and fallen asleep. Kayla sensed something was wrong and told the girl that she would stay on the phone until her mother returned.

Growing unease

As the conversation continued, the young girl revealed that she was in Chicago, far from where Kayla lived in Maryland. The girl then mentioned that she was hungry and wanted to go to the store to get 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 conversation and said she was going to the store.

Kayla’s concern grew as the night went on, especially when the girl called back. This time she claimed to be home, but said her mother was “sleeping” while her mother’s friends were there, and it was too loud for her to sleep. Kayla, who was already in full “mommy mode” at this point, tried to get as much information out of the girl as she could in case she needed to contact authorities.

The phone calls continued back and forth, with the girl hanging up and calling again. On one call, all that could be heard was the adults screaming in the background, which only heightened Kayla’s fear. “At this point, I’m going to throw up,” Kayla said, describing the overwhelming fear she felt as she tried to figure out what to do.

@mama_mess_express PSA 📣 CHECK YOUR KIDS’ PHONES!! #fyp #missingchildren #phonesafety #phones #humantraffickingawareness #kidnapping #safetytips ♬ Original sound – Kayla ✨

Seeking help in a frightening situation

Unsure if she was the victim of a scam or if a child was really in danger, Kayla decided to take action. She first contacted her local sheriff’s office, but they advised her to contact Chicago police given the location of the call. Over the course of the night, Kayla managed to find out the child’s name and address, as well as other details needed to send help.

Determined to keep the girl safe, Kayla spent the next morning trying to figure out how to get help. She contacted the girl’s school, filed a comprehensive report with the local Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and continued to do everything in her power to help authorities locate the girl and ensure her well-being.