Scam library · United Kingdom · Updated 20 October 2026
Hi Mum WhatsApp scams: what they say, how to spot it, what to do
A new number and a familiar greeting do not establish who is typing. Reach your relative through a contact you had before the message arrived.
What they say
Illustrative examples, written in our own words:
- Hi Mum, my phone broke and this is my new number.
- I cannot make calls just now, but I need help with an urgent bill.
- Please transfer the money to this other person because my banking app is locked.
- Do not ring my old phone; I will explain everything after you have paid.
How to spot it
- The person changes both the contact number and the place you are asked to send money.
- They avoid a conversation through a familiar channel and keep moving the payment deadline.
- The profile photograph, family details or writing style are treated as proof of identity.
What to do now
- Call the relative’s old saved number. Try another trusted family member if they do not answer.
- Do not replace the saved number until you have checked independently. Agree a private family phrase in advance.
- Keep a record of the request, then use WhatsApp’s report and block controls for the suspicious account.
If you already paid or shared details
Call your bank immediately on the number on your card, using a trusted device. After hanging up, 159 can connect you to participating UK banks; coverage and call charges depend on your provider. Explain what you sent or shared and ask about stopping payments and securing the account.
Tell your relative what happened through a trusted route so the impersonator cannot keep using the same story with the family. If you shared a WhatsApp registration code, follow the app’s account-recovery process through the genuine app.
Under Payment Systems Regulator rules, UK banks and payment firms must refund most eligible authorised push payment (APP) scam losses from UK Faster Payments transfers made on or after 7 October 2024, up to £85,000 per claim. This means you were tricked into authorising a transfer. Eligibility and exceptions apply. Cards, cash, international transfers and crypto payments are not automatically covered by this rule. Report promptly and ask the bank to explain its assessment, any excess and the relevant deadlines.
Keep messages and payment references. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, report to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud). In Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Forward suspicious SMS texts to 7726 and emails to report@phishing.gov.uk, following GOV.UK reporting guidance. For message apps, use the app’s report and block tools. Reporting a message does not replace contacting your bank about a payment.
Questions people ask
Does a family photograph prove it is my child?
No. Call a previously saved number or another trusted family contact before sending money.
Can I forward WhatsApp messages to 7726?
Use the app’s report and block controls for app messages. 7726 is the reporting route for suspicious SMS texts.