What is the 'Hi Mum' scam?

It's a common text scam where an attacker pretends to be your child who has lost their phone. They build trust over a few messages before asking for money to pay an 'urgent bill'.

I already sent money to the 'relative'. What now?

Contact your bank immediately to report the fraud. Also, call your relative on their OLD known number—you will likely find they are perfectly fine and never sent the texts.

How can I protect my family from this?

Establish a 'Safe Word' or a 'Family Password' that only you and your relatives know. If anyone contacts you from a new number, ask them for the secret word.

Emergency Checker

Verify 'Family in Trouble' texts before you send money.

Scammers impersonate children, grandchildren, or close relatives using the 'Hi Mum' or 'Grandparent' scam. They claim to have a 'broken phone' and a 'new number', then invent an urgent financial crisis like a car accident, medical bill, or overdue debt.

Security Insight

Family emergency scams are emotionally devastating and rely on immediate panic. Scammers often use AI voice cloning or harvest names from social media to make their 'emergency' sound incredibly personal and real.

Identifies 'Hi Mum' scam patterns

Spots 'New Number' excuses

Protects your family's savings

Analyze an Emergency Text Family Safety Guide

How to spot a Family Emergency Scam

True emergencies are rarely handled via a text message from an unknown number demanding a bank transfer. Watch out for these specific social engineering signals.

The 'New Number' excuse

The message starts with 'Hi Mum, I dropped my phone in the toilet' or 'I have a new temporary number' to explain why the contact info doesn't match.

Intense Urgency & Secrecy

They claim they need money 'right now' for a bill and beg you 'not to tell anyone' (like their parents or spouse) because they are 'embarrassed'.

Demand for Bank Transfer or Gift Cards

They ask you to pay a bill directly via a provided BSB/Account number or, increasingly, to buy high-value gift cards to pay a 'fine'.

Refusal to take a Voice Call

If you try to call the 'new number', they claim the 'microphone is broken' or they are 'at the police station' and can only text.

What IsThisSpam checks before you trust a sender

Quick verdicts are useful, but the real value is understanding why something looks safe, uncertain, or risky.

Generic Relationship terms

They use 'Mum', 'Dad', or 'Grandma' instead of your specific name or a nickname your relative actually uses for you.

Inconsistent Language/Tone

The spelling, punctuation, or 'vibe' of the text doesn't match how your relative usually speaks. Look for sudden changes in personality.

Unexpected 'Financial Crisis'

The relative claims to be in a situation (like being in jail or a foreign hospital) that seems completely out of character for them.

The 'Testing' transfer

They ask you to send a small amount first to 'check if the transfer works' before asking for a much larger sum.

Related guides

Use the checker for the fast answer, then read the deeper guidance for recurring scam patterns.

WhatsApp Scam Checker

Specific guide for identifying 'Hi Mum' and other social engineering on WhatsApp.

Read the guide

SMS Scam Checker

Broad guide for identifying dangerous links and spoofed mobile numbers.

Read the guide

FAQ

These are the questions people usually ask right before they click, reply, or pay.

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Analyze an Emergency Text Family Safety Guide