Scam library · Texts · Seniors
'Hi Mom' new number text scam
'Hi Mom, I dropped my phone in the toilet. This is my new number. Can you save it?' A little later: 'I need to pay a bill today but my banking app isn't working on the new phone. Can you help?'
It's not your child. It's a scammer sending the same text to many people, hoping a parent replies.
What the message looks like
From: +1 (754) 555-0123
Hi Mom, it's me. My phone broke, this is my new number. Save it!
Can you do me a favor? I need to pay a bill today, I'll pay you back tomorrow. Can I send you the details?
How this scam works
The messages are vague on purpose: 'Hi Mum', 'Hi Dad', no names. Once you reply with your child's name, the scammer plays along.
They ask you to pay a bill directly to someone else's account, or send money through a payment app. Requests are urgent but believable.
Some scammers use AI-generated voice notes to make the impersonation more convincing.
Parents often feel embarrassed for nearly falling for it, but the message is designed to sound exactly like a real child in a small crisis. Agreeing on a simple family rule, like 'new numbers get a quick call to the old one', helps everyone.
The requests often start small, like a few hundred dollars for a phone bill, then grow. Once one payment goes through, another 'urgent' bill appears. Stopping to call the real number at any point ends the scam.
Red flags
- A text from an unknown number claiming to be family.
- No name used in the first message.
- Excuse for why they can't call or use their banking app.
- A request to pay a bill or send money to a third party.
- Urgency.
How to tell it’s fake
- Call your child on their old number, or ask a question only they'd know.
- Agree on a family code word.
- Ask for a voice or video call.
- Look at the payment details: a real child asking for help would rarely want money sent to a stranger's account.
What to do if you clicked, paid or shared info
Don’t panic, and don’t blame yourself. These scams are built by professionals. Act quickly, one step at a time.
If you clicked a link or called back
- Don't send money. Block and report the number by forwarding to 7726.
If you paid
- Contact your bank or payment app right away to try to stop the payment, and report it.
If you shared personal info, a password or a code
- If you shared personal details, alert your family and watch for follow-up scams.
Where to report and get help (U.S.)
If a message seems legit and you’re still not sure, get a second opinion before you act. Reporting helps stop scammers, even if money can’t be recovered. If you are in danger, call 911.
- Your bank or card issuer
Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement, not one from the message. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and to watch the account. - Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report the scam and get a step-by-step recovery plan. - FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) · ic3.gov
Report scams that happened online, especially if money was lost. Include phone numbers, websites and payment details. - AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline · aarp.org helpline
Free, for anyone of any age: trained volunteers help you sort out next steps. 877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. - IdentityTheft.gov · IdentityTheft.gov
If you shared your Social Security number or someone opened accounts in your name.
How Gmork Scam Guard would warn you
Scam Guard in Chrome and Edge on your computer checks chats you have open in WhatsApp Web and other messaging sites. It spots the 'new number, need money' pattern and reminds you to call the old number. If a message seems legit, a scam expert can help you check.
Scam Guard can miss things, so the checks above still matter. See what it warns about and what it keeps private.
Questions people ask
- Why don't they use a name?
- So the same message can be sent to many people.
- They used my son's name. Is it real?
- They may have picked it up from your reply or social media. Call him on his old number.
- What's a family code word?
- A secret word family members can use to verify emergencies.
- Should I protect my parents?
- Yes. Share this page with them and agree on a plan.