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The "hi mom, new number" scam and how to shut it down
"Hi mom, this is my new number …" – scammers take a lot of money out of families with this one. Here is how to spot it instantly and what to do.
- Do not reply in the chat and send no money.
- Call the person on their old, saved number – not the new one.
- Give out no codes and no details.
- If in doubt, ask another family member.
- Report and block the number in WhatsApp.
How the scam runs
You get a message from a number you do not recognize: supposedly your child or a relative whose phone “broke”, hence the new number. The real request follows shortly after: an urgent transfer, because “nothing is working right now”. Behind it is a scammer.
Here is what the chat typically looks like, with the three warning signs marked:
- The "new number" claim: The classic setup: new number, old phone broken. It explains away why you are seeing a stranger's number instead of a saved contact.
- A payment request: It is always an urgent transfer to an account you do not know. A real child does not ask for $1,240 by text message.
- Time pressure: "It has to go out today" is there to stop you picking up the phone and asking. Picking up the phone is exactly what you should do.
The usual warning signs
How to recognize it
- Contact from an unknown number, claiming to be a relative
- The explanation that the old phone is lost or broken
- A pressing request for money, often for an “urgent bill”
- A preference for texting rather than talking
- An unusual greeting or wording that does not sound like them
The one rule that always protects you
For any request for money over a messenger: verify through the number you already have before you do anything. One short call ends the scam on the spot.Verify, do not trust
Never reply in the same chat to “check” the story – scammers have an answer ready for every follow-up question. Instead:
- Call the real, saved number. If nobody picks up, wait and ask other relatives.
- Ask something only the real person could answer – but on the phone, not in the chat.
- The same logic protects you against deepfake voice calls and against phishing in general.
Already sent money?
Then every minute counts. Work straight through Sent money to a scammer : call the bank, have the transfer stopped, report it, save the chats as evidence.
The scam at a glance
Scammers message you on WhatsApp posing as your child or a relative with a "new number", then ask for an urgent transfer.
How to recognize it
- An unknown number, supposedly a relative whose phone broke
- A request for money, often for an "urgent bill"
- They want to text only, never to talk - plus time pressure
What to do right away
- Call back on the number you already have saved
- Send nothing until you have actually spoken to the person
What never to do
- Transfer money to an account you do not recognize
- Take "my old phone broke" at face value
Prevention in the family
Talk about this one openly, especially with older relatives. Awareness protects better than any app. A shared family code word helps as well: anyone who cannot say it on the phone is not the real person.
More scams are in the scams overview , and the 15-minute security check gets your accounts into shape.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to recognize it?
The combination: a number you do not know, a pressing request for money, and a clear preference for texting rather than talking.
I already sent money – what now?
Call your bank immediately and ask them to stop or recall the transfer. Report it to the police and at IC3.gov, and save the chat history as evidence.
Should I just ignore messages like this?
Do not engage in the chat. Check through the old, known number whether anything is actually going on. You can report and block the number in WhatsApp.