WhatsApp rip-off often known as ‘hi mum’ evolving at ‘breakneck speed’, professional warns | EUROtoday

Parents have been urged to remain alert as consultants warn a WhatsApp rip-off wherein fraudsters goal moms and dads whereas pretending to be their kids is evolving artwork “breakneck speed”.

The rip-off begins with a textual content, beginning “Hi mum” or “Hi dad”, earlier than the sender tells of shedding their telephone and being locked out of their checking account. Eventually the scammer asks the individual to switch some cash or cowl lease.

These messages are likely to arrive through WhatsApp or textual content, though the fraudsters don’t at all times masquerade as offspring, typically opting to be shut mates and even claiming to be the recipient’s mother and father.

Action Fraud reported that ‘Hi Mum’ and ‘Hi Dad’ rip-off texts led to a complete monetary lack of £226,744 between 2023 and 2025 for victims throughout the United Kingdom, based on a Freedom of Information request.

Data from Santander UK exhibits that amongst prospects of the financial institution, fraudsters who pretended to be somebody’s son have been essentially the most profitable, adopted by daughters, then moms.

Chris Ainsley, the financial institution’s head of fraud danger administration, warned the scams are evolving at “breakneck speed”. He stated: “We’re hearing of instances where AI voice impersonation technology is being used to create WhatsApp and SMS voice notes, making the scam seem ever more realistic.”

“If you’re ever asked for money out of the blue on any social or communication platform, verify the request by picking up the phone.”

These “smishing” scams begin with a pleasant message from somebody claiming to be near the recipient from an unknown quantity. If the recipient doesn’t reply, they might ship repeated messages earlier than giving up. Those who do reply will discover the fraudsters purpose to enter a dialog with generic particulars.

Quickly into the change, these fraudsters will declare they urgently want cash and put strain on the recipient for fast assist. This may very well be to do with shopping for a brand new telephone or paying an pressing invoice.

The main purpose of this change is for the fraudsters to get cash; one essential element is that the “senders” standard checking account will likely be out of the query for the switch, which means they may ask the recipient to ship cash to an account they’re unfamiliar with.

For these fearful about whether or not their liked one is in actual bother, consultants advocate attempting them on their actual quantity – and never panicking in the event that they don’t reply straight away.

Other methods of checking for sure may very well be by ready to see them in individual or asking them a query solely the opposite individual would know the reply to.

Consumer recommendation service Which? means that to forestall future scams of this sort, it’s price organising a household password to test a sender’s credentials.

Recipients who suppose they’ve been scammed, and have already transferred the money, can name their financial institution immediately to cease the fee.

WhatsApp messages could be reported through the app and rip-off texts could be forwarded to the quantity 7726, which fits to the phone community suppliers. All scams could be reported to Action Fraud.