A shocked mum has told how she received a fake Argos text message containing a link leading to explicit videos.

The text, received by Rikkilee O'Neill, said that she had a package waiting for collection.

However, when she followed the link on her phone, it led her to a pornographic film, reports The Liverpool Echo .

Adding to the shock and embarrassment was the fact that she was sitting with her nine-year-old son when she received a text which arrived in the same thread as genuine messages from the retailer.

Rikkilee O'Neill was mortified after she received a scam text which linked to an explicit video
Rikkilee O'Neill was mortified after she received a scam text which linked to an explicit video

The 28-year-old, who lives near London Road, in Liverpool, said: "I had my phone in front of me when I opened the text, I'm not sure what my son has seen because he was sat next to me.

"The video was really graphic, it's embarrassing for me as a 28-year-old, never mind if my nine-year-old son saw it.

"I do not know what he saw and what he did not see - and I don't want to know as it is a topic I would rather not discuss with him.

"I just froze when the video started playing.

"I do not want it happening to anyone else, as it is just wrong. You spend your life trying to protect your kids from these kind of things and then it happens in a text."

The text appeared between genuine Argos texts
The text appeared between genuine Argos texts

Rikkilee said that she only believed the message was from the retailer as, in the past, she has received similar texts when she ordered products online.

She added: "I ordered chairs from Argos before and got a text when my order was out for delivery or needed to be collected, so why would I think this was any different?

"I hope I can stop people from opening similar links, as a it was not a nice experience."

Despite the texts being in the same text message thread as other Argos messages, the retailer says it wasn't sent by them.

Instead, it is warning its customers against the scam, advising them to careful if they receive a similar text.

A spokesperson for Argos said: "We've apologised to Rikkilee for her experience. Customers should always be mindful of phishing scams and we are advising customers to delete these sorts of messages.