Phone & Text Scamsmedium

The WhatsApp "Hi Mum" Scam

A parent received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number claiming to be their child with a broken phone — and sent £2,400 before realising it was a scam.

Individual families (UK-wide)·2022·2 min read

Attack Chain

Unknown number messages parent claiming to be their child

New number story used to explain unfamiliar contact

Urgency of a financial emergency created

Transfer made before verification

1
Unknown number messages parent claiming to be their child
2
New number story used to explain unfamiliar contact
3
Urgency of a financial emergency created
4
Transfer made before verification

Background

The "Hi Mum" or "Hi Dad" scam emerged in the UK in 2021 and quickly became one of the highest-volume phone scams in the country. UK Finance reported £1.5 million stolen in a single month. The scam works because parents are wired to respond to a child in need, often without stopping to question.

The Attack

The message typically reads: "Hi Mum, it's [name]. I dropped my phone and this is my new number. Can you save it?" After a brief exchange to build trust, the child claims they urgently need money — to pay a bill, a plumber, rent — and asks Mum or Dad to transfer it because they can't access their banking from their new phone. By the time the real child is contacted and the scam confirmed, the money is gone.

Response

In most cases, victims contacted their bank within hours of discovering the scam. Banks with faster payment systems had limited ability to recall funds. UK Finance lobbied for banks to introduce confirmation-of-payee checks on all transfers.

Outcome

UK Finance estimated the "Hi Mum" scam caused £48.6 million in losses in the UK in 2022. Average losses per victim ranged from £1,500 to £3,000.

Key Takeaways

Always call your child on their known number to verify before sending money — even a two-minute call prevents this scam entirely
Establish a family code word that any genuine emergency message must include
Banks can now often flag unusual transfers — but prevention is better than a dispute process
Text scams increasingly impersonate people you know rather than companies — familiarity makes them more dangerous
Report WhatsApp scam messages by tapping and holding the message, then selecting "Report"

WhatsAppHi Mum scamimpersonationfamily fraudAPP fraud