Alert: ‘Hi Mum!’ WhatsApp Scam Drains Wallets of Unsuspecting Parents & Friends

The scam often begins with a simple message: “Hi mum, I’ve lost my phone.” This is quickly followed by a story of misfortune, including being locked out of a bank account.

Fortunately, a so-called friend is usually available to lend their phone for communication, and you are asked to urgently transfer money to this friend’s account. Sometimes, the requests may even include paying the rent directly to a landlord or handling other sudden financial obligations during this crisis.

These deceptive messages typically arrive via WhatsApp or SMS. The swindlers may pose as your children, friends, or even as parents themselves.

According to data from Santander, impostors posing as someone’s son have been the most successful in deceiving customers, followed by those pretending to be daughters and then mothers.

Chris Ainsley, who leads fraud risk management at the bank, notes that these scams are developing rapidly. He mentions, “We’re now seeing cases where AI is used to mimic voices in WhatsApp and SMS messages, making the scams appear incredibly realistic.”

Recognizing the Scam

These scams usually start with a friendly but vague message from a supposedly familiar person, but from an unfamiliar number. If you ignore the message, you might receive several more. If you reply, the fraudster will engage in conversation, though the specifics they provide are typically vague and non-committal.

Soon into the conversation, they’ll express an urgent need for money, pressuring you to act fast to help them.

They will insist on transferring the money to an unfamiliar account as their usual bank account is supposedly inaccessible.

Demands of the Messages

The primary request is for money. They might claim it’s for a new phone or immediate living expenses and ask you to transfer the funds.

The provided bank details will always be in someone else’s name, purportedly belonging to a friend or a creditor, and the requested amount is usually specified to the penny. The account could belong directly to the fraudsters or to an unwitting third party being used as a money mule.

Steps to Take

If you suspect your loved one might actually be in trouble, verify their situation. Try contacting them on their usual number and don’t panic if there’s no immediate response.

You could also ask a personal question that only the real person would know the answer to.

Consumer advocacy group Which? recommends setting up a family password for emergencies to confirm the identity of the person on the other end.

If you’ve already sent money, contact your bank immediately to see if the transaction can be halted.

Fraudulent WhatsApp messages can be reported directly within the app, and scam texts can be forwarded to 7726, which alerts network providers.

Additionally, scams can be reported to Action Fraud.

When making a transfer, your bank will typically ask security questions about the transaction. Always answer truthfully, even if instructed otherwise by the scammer.