Spot a ’Hi Mum’ family-impersonation message
A message from an unknown number claims to be your child with a new phone, then asks for urgent help paying a bill. It’s a scammer.
- Be suspicious of a text or WhatsApp from an unknown number saying ’Hi Mum, I lost my phone’ or similar.
- Notice the quick pivot to money — a bill they can’t pay because they’re locked out of their banking.
- Don’t transfer money based on the message — call the person on their usual number to check.
- Ask something only the real person would know if you can’t reach them another way.
- Resist the urgency; the rush to help is exactly what the scam relies on.
- Report it to Scamwatch and warn family who might get the same message.
Still stuck after those?
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