UK smartphone users are being urged to stay vigilant and watch out for a worrying new text message that's being pushed out to devices. These latest fake messages revive the well-known "Hi Mum" scam, a tactic that has already cost victims hundreds of thousands of pounds.
How the Scam Works
The trick begins with a simple text that appears to come from a son or daughter using a new phone number. It uses the current summer weather to make it feel current and up to date. A typical message reads: "Hi Mum, I'm so hot and stressed. Please text me on my new number – it's urgent." Once the recipient replies, the fraudster continues to pose as a family member in need and eventually asks for money to be transferred, often claiming it's an emergency.
Scale of the Fraud
According to Report Fraud, these scams remain highly effective because they exploit parents' natural instinct to help their children. The messages are designed to create panic and encourage people to act quickly before they have time to question whether the request is genuine. Action Fraud says more than £220,000 was lost to "Hi Mum" scams in the UK between 2023 and 2025.
What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Message
If you receive a message like this, don't respond. Instead, contact your relative using the phone number you already have saved to confirm they're safe. If it's a scam, report the text immediately to help protect others. Follow these steps: don't reply; call or text your loved one using their usual phone number; forward the suspicious text to 7726, the UK's spam reporting service.
While the scam may seem obvious in hindsight, it's caught many victims out and it's easy to see why. Those who are less tech savvy can be tricked by the emotion of the messages which often create a believable story that pressures victims into sending money without verifying the request. The safest approach is to treat any unexpected message claiming to be from a family member with caution. Always verify their identity using a trusted contact method before responding or sending money.
