Countersign
Scam explained

The “Hi Mum” (or “Hi Dad”) text scam: how to spot it

Updated October 14, 2026 · 5 min read

In the “Hi Mum” scam, you get a text from an unknown number saying “Hi Mum, I’ve lost my phone, this is my new number.” After a little chat, they ask you to pay a bill urgently, promising to repay you. It’s a text version of the grandparent scam, and it’s widely reported in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In the US it’s often “Hi Mom”.

How it unfolds

  1. A text arrives: “Hi Mum, this is my new number, I dropped my phone in water.” It often asks you to delete the old number.
  2. If you reply, they say they’re locked out of banking on the new phone and need to pay an urgent bill.
  3. They give you details of an account that isn’t your child’s, and promise to pay you back.
  4. After you pay, they ask for more.

Warning signs

  • A new number and a request to delete the old one.
  • A vague greeting like “It’s me” rather than a name.
  • Money sent to a third party, not your child’s normal account.
  • Pressure to pay urgently, today.
  • Some versions save themselves under a family label such as “Mum” in your contacts, which means a name on screen isn’t proof.

How to check it’s really your child

  1. Don’t reply or pay. Don’t change the number in your contacts.
  2. Call your child on the number you already have, or message them on another app they use.
  3. Ask for something only they’d know, or for your family safe word.
  4. Or ask them in Countersign: the real person confirms on their own phone, and you’ll see it.
  5. Report the message: forward scam texts to 7726 in the UK, report to Scamwatch in Australia, or reportfraud.ftc.gov in the US.

If you’ve already paid

Call your bank straight away, and tell them it’s a scam. The faster you act, the better the chance of recalling the payment. Then report it, and warn the family.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “Hi Mum” scam real?

Yes. Regulators such as Australia’s ACMA and UK banks have issued warnings about it. Scammers text pretending to be your child with a new number.

What if the message uses my child’s name or sits in my family chat?

A name or label isn’t proof, because scammers can also use saved labels and stolen details. Verify through a number you already have.

What should I reply to a “Hi Mum” text?

Don’t reply. Contact your child directly on their saved number or another app, and report the message.

Is there a “Hi Mom” scam in the US?

Yes, it’s the same scam with US spelling, and it’s increasingly common by text and WhatsApp.

Keep reading