~/scams explained / whatsapp-hi-mum-scam

"Hi Mum, new number": the WhatsApp scam with the fake child

Scammers write on WhatsApp or by text and pretend to be your child with a new phone number. Soon after, they urgently ask you to transfer money.

How the scam works

1. You get a message from an unknown number, for example "Hi Mum, my phone broke, this is my new number".
2. The scammers build trust with a few friendly lines and ask you to save the new number.
3. Then comes an emergency: a bill that must be paid today, and their own online banking supposedly does not work right now.
4. You are asked to send money quickly, often to the account of a supposed third person.
5. After the first payment, more requests often follow until you become suspicious or stop paying.

How to spot it

• The message comes from a number you do not know and claims the old number is no longer in use.
• No name is mentioned, or the greeting is generic, such as "Mum" or "Dad".
• Money comes up quickly, and your child supposedly cannot pay or call themselves.
• There is time pressure: the payment must be made "today".
• The sender refuses a call or voice message with excuses like "my microphone is broken".
• The profile picture is missing or new, and the writing style does not match your child.

What to do now

• Do not transfer anything until you are sure who is really writing.
• Call your child on the number you have known for a long time, or ask another family member.
• Ask a question only your child can answer, and do not reply under pressure.
• Block the number and report it in WhatsApp using the report function.
• Warn family and friends, because the same trick is often sent to many people.

Already clicked or paid?

1. If you already sent money, call your bank right away, using the number you know from your card or contract. Ask whether the payment can still be stopped.
2. Collect all evidence: screenshots of the messages, the number and the payment receipt.
3. Report it to the police. Getting the money back is not guaranteed, but the report matters.
4. If you shared codes or login details, change your passwords at once and have your card or access blocked if needed.

Frequently asked questions

How do the scammers know my name and my child's name?

Often they do not: the message is generic and sent to very many numbers. Whoever replies is then targeted more closely. Sometimes details come from public profiles.

What if the message could really be from my child?

Then call or write to the number you already know. A real child will understand that you check first. Only send money once you have clearly identified the person.

Can I report this?

Yes. Block and report the number in the messenger, report any loss to the police and inform a consumer protection organisation.

More scams

• Fake parcel text: "Delivery failed"
• Fake bank email: "Account locked" and "renew your security method"
• Fake PayPal email: "Account limited" and "suspicious payment"
• Fake Amazon email: order, Prime, locked account or refund
• Classified ads scam: the fake buyer with the "secure payment link"
• How to spot a fake online shop
• Prize draw scam: why "You have won" is often a trap
• Fake Microsoft support: the phone call and virus pop-up scam
• Fake bank employee call: when the bank seems to be calling
• Crypto investment scam: fake ads with famous faces
• Tax refund phishing: fake emails from authorities

General advice, not legal advice. If you lost money, involve your bank and the police.

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