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Scam simulator · Texts and emails

The "Hi Mum" Text

A message from an unknown number says “Hi Mum, it’s me.” The scam is best known by that name, but the same message also arrives as “Hi Mom”, “Hi Dad” or “Hi Grandad”. Practice what to do, and see how a chat about a broken phone becomes a payment to a stranger.

  • About 5 minutes
  • 7 decisions
  • Common in: Australia, the UK and New Zealand especially; in the US and Canada it arrives as "Hi Mom" or "Hi Dad"

Why it matters: In the first seven months of 2022, people over 55 made 82% of the reports of "Hi Mum" family-impersonation scams in Australia, and lost 95% of the money. (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), August 2022)

It’s Sunday afternoon and you’re at home. Your grown-up son and daughter both live a few hours away, and you usually swap messages every few days.

Below, each step shows what you'd see, the choices people make, and why each one is safe or risky. The summary at the end tells you what to look for and what to do.

You'll see each message or call as it would really look. Choose what you'd do, and you'll find out why. Nothing here is real: no messages are sent and nothing you choose leaves your device.

  1. Step 1 of 7 First contact

    Your phone buzzes. It’s a message from a number you don’t have saved.

    Practice screen Chat app message
    (347) 555-0126Chat app

    This number is not in your contacts.

    1. Hi Mum, it’s me. I’ve accidentally dropped my phone in the sink while cleaning up. It’s completely dead, this is my new number2:41 pm
    2. Save this one and delete the old one2:41 pm

    What do you do?

    Not sure? Show a hint

    Has the sender said which of your children they are?

    1. Save the new number under my son’s name and delete the old one, as asked.

      Risky choice

      It seems like a small, helpful thing, but it’s the heart of the trick. Once the new number is saved under your child’s name, every message looks as if it’s from them. Deleting the old number removes the easiest way to check.

    2. Reply: “Who is this?”

      Better, but not the safest

      Better than playing along, because you haven’t assumed who it is. But the scammer will simply reply “It’s me, Mum” and carry on, waiting for you to fill in a name. Checking by phone is stronger.

    3. Don’t reply. Call my son, and my daughter, on the numbers I already have saved for them.

      Safe choice

      That’s the safe move, and it’s what Australia’s consumer watchdog advises. Usually your child answers straight away on their normal phone, and the scam is over. If they don’t pick up, leave a message and wait before doing anything else.

    Red flags at this step

    • A message from an unknown number that says it’s family
    • A lost or broken phone story
    • “Save this number and delete the old one”

    What's really going on

    The sender usually doesn’t know your children’s names, or even whether you have any. The message is written so that any parent could believe it, and it leaves you to fill in who it is. Asking you to delete the old number is deliberate: it removes the easiest way to check.

  2. Step 2 of 7 Winning your trust

    Suppose you reply. The chat feels friendly and normal, just like catching up.

    Practice screen Chat app message
    (347) 555-0126Chat app
    1. Oh no. Are you all right?2:44 pm
    2. Yeah all good, just annoying. Can you send me a nice photo of you? I want it for my new profile picture2:45 pm
    3. Why don’t you just call me?2:47 pm
    4. Can’t at the moment, the mic on this phone is broken. Text is easier for now2:47 pm

    What do you do next?

    Not sure? Show a hint

    Your child has a new phone but can’t call you. What does that tell you?

    1. Send a photo. It’s harmless, and it’s nice that they want one.

      Risky choice

      A photo of you makes the scammer’s profile look real, and it keeps the friendly chat going, which is what the scammer needs before asking for money. It could also be used to fool other people in your family.

    2. Say I’d love to hear their voice, and ask them to call from a friend’s phone.

      Better, but not the safest

      It’s a good instinct, because a real child can nearly always find a way to call. Expect another excuse. If they still won’t call, take that as your answer, and call the number you already have for your son.

    3. Ask for our family safe word. If they can’t give it, stop replying and call my son on his usual number.

      Safe choice

      Well done. A scammer can’t know a word your family only shared in person. Expect an excuse, such as “I can’t remember, I’ve had a terrible day.” That’s your answer: stop replying and call the number you already have.

    Red flags at this step

    • They can’t call you: the microphone is “broken”
    • A request for a photo of you
    • Warm and chatty, but always by text

    What's really going on

    Refusing to talk on the phone is one of the clearest signs. A real child with a new phone can almost always call. Scammers stick to text because their own voice would give them away, and the friendly small talk is there to relax you before the money request arrives.

  3. Step 3 of 7 The pressure

    A little later, a new message arrives.

    Practice screen Chat app message
    (347) 555-0126Chat app
    1. i have a little problem i need to pay a bill today but i cannot log into my online banking on this phone3:20 pm
    2. Can you pay it for me? I’ll pay you back tomorrow, promise3:20 pm

    What do you do?

    Not sure? Show a hint

    Does a bill that’s due today have to be paid before you’ve heard your child’s voice?

    1. Say yes. Of course I’ll help, it’s only until tomorrow.

      Risky choice

      Any parent would want to help, and “I’ll pay you back tomorrow” makes it feel like a small favor. But you still haven’t spoken to your child. The scammer now knows you’re willing, and the payment details are on their way.

    2. Ask what the bill is for and how much it is.

      Better, but not the safest

      Asking questions feels careful, but a scammer has an answer ready for everything: rent, a phone bill, a late fee. The answers don’t prove anything. Only a call to the number you already have does.

    3. Say I’ll call them about it, then ring my son’s usual number.

      Safe choice

      That’s the golden rule for this scam. A bill that has to be paid today can wait for a two-minute phone call. If it really is your son, he’ll understand.

    Red flags at this step

    • A money problem that has to be sorted out today
    • Locked out of their own online banking
    • “I’ll pay you back tomorrow”

    What's really going on

    The words in these messages come from real ones reported in Australia: a phone dropped in the sink, “a little problem”, a bill to pay and online banking that won’t work. Being locked out of banking on the new phone explains why they can’t pay it themselves.

  4. Step 4 of 7 The ask

    Many parents do offer to help, or ask how much. Either way, the payment details arrive.

    Practice screen Chat app message
    (347) 555-0126Chat app
    1. Thank you so much. It’s $2,480. Here are the details3:26 pm
    2. Account name: Ryan Keller. Account number: 582133673:26 pm
    3. Who’s Ryan Keller?3:29 pm
    4. He’s the supplier, it’s his account. I’ll explain later. Can you do it now? It has to be paid by 53:30 pm

    The name on the account isn't your son's. What do you do?

    Not sure? Show a hint

    Whose name is on the account?

    1. Pay it. It makes sense that a bill goes to the supplier.

      Risky choice

      It does sound sensible, and that’s why the story is built that way. But you’d be sending money to a stranger’s account on the word of someone you haven’t seen or heard. Once a bank transfer has gone, it’s very hard to get back.

    2. Pay half now, and the rest after we’ve talked.

      Risky choice

      Half is still money sent to a stranger, and it tells the scammer you’ll pay more. If you want to talk first, talk first, then decide.

    3. Don’t pay. I never send money to an account in someone else’s name without speaking to my child first.

      Safe choice

      Exactly right. A name on the account that doesn’t match your child is one of the clearest warning signs. The account belongs to the scammers, or to someone they use to move money.

    Red flags at this step

    • Paying into an account in someone else’s name
    • A deadline (“it has to be paid by 5”)
    • “I’ll explain later”

    What's really going on

    Scammers can’t give you an account in your child’s name, so they explain the stranger’s name away: a friend, a landlord, a supplier. Australia’s consumer watchdog puts it simply: “never send money without being absolutely sure who you are sending it to.”

  5. Step 5 of 7 The ask

    Suppose you hesitate and say you’d like to talk first. A moment later, a voice message arrives. It sounds just like your son.

    Practice screen Chat app message
    (347) 555-0126Chat app
    1. I’d feel better if we could talk first.3:34 pm
    2. Voice message: “Mum, it’s me. I know it’s weird, I’m sorry. Please can you just do it for me today? I’ll pay you back tomorrow, I promise.” 3:36 pm

    It sounds like his voice. What do you do?

    Not sure? Show a hint

    Is a recording the same as a conversation?

    1. That’s definitely him. Pay the bill.

      Risky choice

      A voice note can sound exactly like your child and still be fake. AI can copy a voice from a short clip posted online. Notice it’s a recording, not a live call: it can’t answer a question you ask.

    2. Call my son on his usual number anyway, or ask for our family safe word.

      Safe choice

      Well done. A recording proves nothing, because it can’t answer back. Your son’s real phone, or your family safe word, can. If it truly is him, he’ll be glad you checked.

    Red flags at this step

    • A voice note instead of a phone call
    • A voice that sounds right but says only general things
    • Pressure again: “today”

    What's really going on

    Santander, a UK bank, said in 2025: “We’re hearing of instances where AI voice impersonation technology is being used to create WhatsApp and SMS voice notes, making the scam seem ever more realistic.” It also found that scammers pretending to be someone’s son were the most successful. The FBI advises families to agree on a secret word or phrase for moments like this.

  6. Step 6 of 7 The ask

    Some people do try to pay, and their bank shows a warning or a limit. Others say no. Either way, the scammer has a new idea.

    Practice screen Chat app message
    (347) 555-0126Chat app
    1. Ok don’t worry about the bank. Can you send it in smaller bits? 4 payments of $620 should go through fine3:48 pm
    2. Please Mum, I really need this today. I’ll never ask again3:49 pm

    What do you do?

    Not sure? Show a hint

    Why would anyone need a payment to slip past your bank’s checks?

    1. Send it in smaller amounts so the bank doesn’t stop it.

      Risky choice

      Splitting a payment is a way around the checks your bank has put in place to protect you. If a payment has to be broken up to get past the bank, that’s a strong sign it’s a scam.

    2. Stop replying. Call my bank on the number on my card, and call my son.

      Safe choice

      That’s right. Your bank’s warning was doing its job. If you’ve already sent anything, call your bank straight away: the sooner they know, the better the chance of stopping it.

    Red flags at this step

    • Being asked to split a payment into smaller amounts
    • Being told to ignore your bank’s warning
    • Pushing harder after you say no

    What's really going on

    Scammers ask for several smaller payments because they’re less likely to trigger a bank’s checks. The more you hesitate, the more emotional the messages become. That pressure is a sign of a scam, not of a child in need.

  7. Step 7 of 7 Afterwards

    The next morning, another message arrives from the same number. Meanwhile, your son’s usual number works perfectly: he’s had the same phone all along.

    Practice screen Chat app message
    (347) 555-0126Chat app
    1. Morning Mum. Sorry to ask again, the bank charged me a late fee. Can you send $390? Will pay it all back Friday9:05 am

    What do you do?

    Not sure? Show a hint

    Has anything you were promised actually happened?

    1. Send the late fee. It’s small compared with yesterday.

      Risky choice

      Once someone has paid, the scammer knows they will pay, so the requests keep coming: a late fee, a new phone, rent. The promised repayment never arrives.

    2. Don’t reply. Report and block the number, call my bank, and tell the family what happened.

      Safe choice

      Well done. Report the number in the chat app, then block it. Tell the rest of the family too, because the same scammers may try your other children or grandchildren. If you paid by bank transfer, ask your bank about getting your money back.

    Red flags at this step

    • Another request after the first payment
    • A promise to pay you back that never comes true

    What's really going on

    Wherever you live, call your bank quickly: speed matters. In the UK, most bank transfers made because of a scam like this can be refunded (up to £85,000) if you claim within 13 months, and in the rules’ first year 88% of the money claimed back was returned, according to the Payment Systems Regulator.

What really happened

Your son never lost his phone. The messages came from a scammer who sends the same opening line to many parents and waits for someone to reply. The friendly chat, the broken microphone, the stranger’s account and the voice note were all steps in a script. One phone call to the number you already had would have ended it at the start.

Read your summary

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How would your family do?

Send this simulator to a parent, grandparent or friend. They try it on their own phone or computer, and at the end they can send their score straight back to you, so you can see which steps caught them out. Then talk it over together.

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From simulator to confidence

Protect the whole family with Scam-Proof

This simulator is one scam. Scam-Proof puts 50 of today's scams in one calm, large-print book to keep by the phone, for you and the people you love.

This scam is in the book. Scam 19 in the book's 50-scam library covers the "Hi Mom, new number" text, and Chapter 12 helps your family set up a safe word and a plan together.

  • Spot the three-part pattern behind almost every scam: pressure, secrecy and strange payment
  • Handle fake bank, tax, Medicare and tech-support calls with word-for-word scripts
  • Catch out cloned-voice “grandchild in trouble” calls with a family safe word
  • Check a text, email or website before you tap anything
  • A 50-scam library with the tell and the fix for each
  • 20 "Say This" scripts for tricky calls and messages

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Summary · keep this

"Hi Mum" text: what to look for and what to do

Remember: If a message says it’s your child on a new number, call the number you already have for them before you do anything else. Never pay into someone else’s account for them without talking first.

What to look for

  • “Hi Mum”, “Hi Mom” or “Hi Dad” from a number you don’t have saved
  • A lost, broken or dropped-in-the-sink phone, and a request to delete the old number
  • They can’t call: the microphone is “broken”
  • A bill that must be paid today, because they’re “locked out” of their banking
  • Payment details in someone else’s name: a friend, a landlord, a supplier
  • A voice note instead of a live call
  • Being asked to split a payment, or to ignore your bank’s warning

What to do

A message says it’s your child on a new number
Don’t reply and don’t save it. Call your child on the number you already have.
They say they can’t call
Ask for your family safe word. If they can’t give it, stop replying.
They ask you to pay a bill for them
Say you’ll talk first. Never pay into an account in someone else’s name on the strength of a message.
A voice note sounds just like them
Treat it as a recording that could be faked. Call them yourself.
Your bank shows a warning about the payment
Stop. The warning is there for moments like this. Call your bank on the number on your card if you’re unsure.

If you've already paid, clicked or shared details

Don't be embarrassed. These scams are run by professionals, and acting fast gives you the best chance of stopping the damage.

  1. Call your bank straight away, using the number on your card or in your banking app, and ask them to stop or recall the payment.
  2. Take screenshots of the messages, then report the number in the chat app and block it.
  3. Warn the rest of the family. The same scammers may try your other children or grandchildren.
  4. If you sent a photo or personal details, tell your family, so they know to be careful with messages that use them.
  5. Report it (see below for your country). You have nothing to be ashamed of: these messages are written by professionals.

Where to get help and report it

United States

  • Money gone or card details shared? Call your bank or card company now, on the number on the back of your card.
  • Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and, for anything online, to the FBI at ic3.gov.
  • Aged 60 or over? The National Elder Fraud Hotline can help you report and recover: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1‑833‑372‑8311), Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm Eastern.
  • Free advice from trained volunteers: AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline, 877‑908‑3360. You don’t need to be a member.
  • Scam texts: forward them to 7726 (spells SPAM).
  • Gave out personal details? Get a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov and think about a free credit freeze.
  • Someone coming to your door to collect money? Call 911.

United Kingdom

  • Money gone or card details shared? Call 159 to reach your bank safely (it works for most major banks), or use the number on your card.
  • Report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
  • Tricked into a bank transfer? Ask your bank about a refund. UK rules cover most transfers up to £85,000 if you claim within 13 months.
  • Scam texts: forward them free to 7726. Scam emails: forward them to [email protected].
  • Free, confidential advice: Age UK Advice Line, 0800 678 1602.
  • Someone coming to your door to collect money or cards? Call 999.

Australia

  • Money gone or card details shared? Call your bank now, on the number on your card or in your banking app.
  • Report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. If it happened online, also report it to police through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au.
  • Gave out personal details or ID? IDCARE gives free help: 1800 595 160.
  • Not sure what to do? The Australian Cyber Security Hotline is 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371). For police, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.
  • Scam texts: report them to Scamwatch. Telstra customers can also forward them to 7226; other providers may too, so ask yours.
  • Someone coming to your door to collect money or cards? Call 000.

Canada

  • Money gone or card details shared? Call your bank now, on the number on your card.
  • Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1‑888‑495‑8501 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4:45pm Eastern) or online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca. Tell your local police too.
  • Scam texts: forward them to 7726.
  • Gave out personal details? Ask Equifax and TransUnion to put a fraud alert on your credit file.
  • Someone coming to your door to collect money or cards? Call 911.

New Zealand

  • Money gone or card details shared? Call your bank now, on the number on your card.
  • Report it to Police on 105 (or 105.police.govt.nz) and to the National Cyber Security Centre at ncsc.govt.nz/report or 0800 114 115.
  • Free advice: Netsafe, 0508 638 723.
  • Scam texts: forward them free to 7726.
  • Gave out personal details or ID? IDCARE gives free help: 0800 121 068.
  • Someone coming to your door to collect money or cards? Call 111.

Ireland

  • Money gone or card details shared? Call your bank now, on the number on your card.
  • Report it at your local Garda station. In an emergency, call 999 or 112.
  • Scam texts: mark them as spam and block the sender. Texts from unregistered senders now show as “Likely Scam”.
  • Check before you invest: search the Central Bank of Ireland register at registers.centralbank.ie. Scam alerts from Irish banks are at fraudsmart.ie.

The rules that stop almost every scam

  • Hang up and call back on a number you find yourself: the back of your card, a bill, or the official website.
  • Never share a code sent to your phone, and never let anyone who contacted you take control of your computer or phone.
  • Never move money to keep it safe. No bank, police force or government agency will ever ask you to.
  • Gift cards, crypto, Bitcoin machines, wire transfers, cash couriers and gold are how scammers get paid. Anyone who asks for them is a scammer.
  • Secrecy and hurry are the giveaways. Anyone who tells you not to tell your bank or family, or to act right now, is working against you.
  • Tell someone. Talk it over with a family member, a friend or your bank before you pay anyone you didn’t plan to pay.

Phone numbers and web addresses were checked on 28 September 2026. They can change; if one doesn't work, search for the organization's official website, and please let us know.

Sources we checked

The people, numbers, companies and web addresses shown in this simulator are made up. The way the scam works is taken from real cases reported by police, regulators and consumer groups.

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