It's been targeting iPhone and Android devices for a number of years but people are still being tricked by the dreaded "Hi mum" message scam. This horrifying attack first began via WhatsApp messages back in 2021 but in recent months it has spread to standard SMS texts as well making it an even bigger problem.
Those caught out by the swindle can find themselves thousands of pounds out of pocket with one phone owner recently telling the BBC that she had lost over £3,000 after handing cash to fraudsters.
Jan - which is not her real name - said she received a message saying , "Hey mum I am texting you on my friends phone as my phone is broken".
She was then asked for money to be sent to help sort the issues. It was only after she had transferred the cash and sent a confirmation to her son that she realised something was wrong.
"I was just so gutted, I was so, so, so upset that someone could do this to me," Jan told BBC Money Box.
She isn't the only one that has fallen foul of this scam with Action Fraud recently confirming that more than 1,200 people handed over a total of £1.5 million to cyber thieves in 2022 alone.
“If you receive a message like this from a friend or family member, don’t send any money until you’ve had a chance to call them and confirm their identity. Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe," said Detective Chief Inspector Craig Mullish, from the City of London Police.
So how does the "Hi mum" text scam work?
You'll first spot a text from a number that you won't have in your contacts book. Action Fraud says that criminals will then claim to be a family member and will usually begin the conversation with “Hello Mum” or “Hello Dad”.
They will say that they are texting from a new mobile number as their phone was lost or damaged and will go on to ask for money to purchase a new phone, or claim that they need money urgently to pay a bill.
The criminal will supply their bank details for payment, with some coming back on multiple occasions until the victim realises they’ve been scammed.
If you get a text from an unknown number that says "Hi mum" or "Hi dad" then stop and don't respond.
You should text your children on their real numbers and check in with them to find out if they are OK - also send them a copy of the message you received to see if they actually sent it.
To make 100% sure the person that's sent the mystery message is really a family member, just call the number as the scammer is unlikely to answer.
Finally, never send money unless you are certain that person is real and not a cyber crook. Once the transfer takes place you're unlikely to get your cash back although some banks may help so it's worth calling them immediately.
