'Hi Mum' WhatsApp scam
Someone messages from an unknown number pretending to be your son or daughter who has 'lost their phone', then asks you to urgently send money.
“Hi mum, I dropped my phone down the toilet so I'm texting from a new number. I can't log into my banking — can you pay a bill for me? I'll send the details.”
How it works
The scammer poses as a family member texting from a 'new number', builds a quick sense of trust and urgency (a bill that must be paid today, locked out of online banking), and asks you to transfer money to an account that isn't really theirs.
Warning signs
- A message from an unknown number claiming to be a relative
- A story about a lost, broken, or replaced phone
- Urgent request to pay a bill or transfer money today
- Reluctance to take a phone call to confirm
- New bank details you don't recognise
What to do
- Call the person on their known number before doing anything
- Never transfer money based on a text alone
- Verify with another family member if you can't reach them
- Report it to your bank and to Action Fraud if you've paid
Frequently asked questions
- How can I be sure it's really my family member?
- Call them on the number you already have saved, or ask a question only they would know the answer to. Genuine relatives won't mind you checking.