This cruel scam is STILL tricking thousands—don't be the next victim!
- Replies 0
In the digital age, communication is often in the form of quick texts and instant messages. This instantaneous communication has made reaching out to loved ones quicker than ever before.
However, a devious scheme has persisted in exploiting the parental instinct to protect and provide for one's children. And despite thousands falling prey, many are still vulnerable to this scheme.
Dubbed the 'Hi Mum' text scam, this fraudulent scheme has continued to deceive parents across Australia, with IDCARE, the national identity and cyber support service, reporting a staggering 37.5 per cent increase in calls about this scam in 2024.
Despite public awareness campaigns and widespread media coverage, the emotional manipulation at the heart of this scam has proven to be a potent tool for criminals.
The 'Hi Mum' scam preys on the love and concern parents naturally feel for their children. Scammers send messages pretending to be a child in distress, claiming they've lost or damaged their phone and urgently need money.
The texts are often convincing, tailored to create a sense of panic and urgency that overrides logic and skepticism.
Kylee Dennis, a former police officer and now a scams investigation business owner, experienced this firsthand when her mother received a text message from a scammer posing as her daughter.
‘She received a text that says “hi mum, I've accidentally dropped my phone in the sink while cleaning up. It's completely dead, this is my new number”,’ she said.
The scam is simple yet effective.
The ‘daughter’ then went on to ask for $4,750 to pay a supposed bill since they were allegedly unable to access their account.
The message then escalates to a plea for financial help, with the scammer applying pressure to act quickly. In Kylee's case, her mother was moments away from transferring money when Kylee fortunately called her back, preventing a costly mistake.
‘She just said, “I looked at that text message, and then the next text message seemed that it was so important that I didn't think twice”,’ Ms Dennis said.
‘Her heart took over versus her head.’
The emotional response to such messages is powerful, often causing parents to act first and think later. This is precisely what scammers bank on.
‘People aren't stupid. It's just scammers' tactics are so manipulative and coercive that people will comply, so we have to go back to you need to make those phone calls, you need to ring, you need to step away from that phone and think logically about what is being said to you.’
Kathy Sundstrom, National Manager of Outreach & Engagement at IDCARE, explains that scammers are adept at playing with emotions, knowing that the instinct to help one's child can cloud judgment.
Interestingly, it's not just the elderly who are falling victim to these scams. IDCARE's data shows that the 35-to-44-year-old demographic is most likely to engage with the scam, possibly due to their busy lives juggling children, careers, and the care of their own parents.
This age group may not actively seek out information on scams, leaving them vulnerable to such deceptive tactics.
So, how can you protect yourself and your loved ones from falling prey to the 'Hi, Mum' scam? The National Anti-Scam Centre advises scepticism when receiving messages from unknown numbers, even if they appear to come from family or friends.
Always verify by calling the person's known number or using an alternative contact method. If the phone was genuinely lost or damaged, they wouldn't be able to answer.
Ms Sundstrom echoes this sentiment, stating ‘...the best thing you can do is call your child back on the number that you have for them,’
Another safeguard is to establish a family password or safe word for emergencies. This can be a secret code that only you and your family members know, to be used if they need to contact you from an unfamiliar number.
Additionally, be wary of messages that pressure you for a quick response or imply dire consequences if you don't act swiftly.
If you do receive a suspicious message, don't respond. Instead, report it to Scamwatch, even if you haven't lost money. By doing so, you contribute to the collective effort to track and combat these scams.
While technology has brought us closer in many ways, it has also opened the door to new forms of exploitation. The 'Hi Mum' scam is a stark reminder that we must remain vigilant and educate ourselves and our families about the risks lurking in our inboxes.
Remember, when it comes to protecting your family and your finances, it's better to be safe than sorry. Let's not let our emotions be used against us. Stay informed, stay sceptical, and stay connected—the right way.
However, a devious scheme has persisted in exploiting the parental instinct to protect and provide for one's children. And despite thousands falling prey, many are still vulnerable to this scheme.
Dubbed the 'Hi Mum' text scam, this fraudulent scheme has continued to deceive parents across Australia, with IDCARE, the national identity and cyber support service, reporting a staggering 37.5 per cent increase in calls about this scam in 2024.
Despite public awareness campaigns and widespread media coverage, the emotional manipulation at the heart of this scam has proven to be a potent tool for criminals.
The 'Hi Mum' scam preys on the love and concern parents naturally feel for their children. Scammers send messages pretending to be a child in distress, claiming they've lost or damaged their phone and urgently need money.
The texts are often convincing, tailored to create a sense of panic and urgency that overrides logic and skepticism.
Scammers are exploiting parents’ concern for their children for their illicit activities. Image source: Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels
Kylee Dennis, a former police officer and now a scams investigation business owner, experienced this firsthand when her mother received a text message from a scammer posing as her daughter.
‘She received a text that says “hi mum, I've accidentally dropped my phone in the sink while cleaning up. It's completely dead, this is my new number”,’ she said.
The scam is simple yet effective.
The ‘daughter’ then went on to ask for $4,750 to pay a supposed bill since they were allegedly unable to access their account.
The message then escalates to a plea for financial help, with the scammer applying pressure to act quickly. In Kylee's case, her mother was moments away from transferring money when Kylee fortunately called her back, preventing a costly mistake.
‘She just said, “I looked at that text message, and then the next text message seemed that it was so important that I didn't think twice”,’ Ms Dennis said.
‘Her heart took over versus her head.’
The emotional response to such messages is powerful, often causing parents to act first and think later. This is precisely what scammers bank on.
‘People aren't stupid. It's just scammers' tactics are so manipulative and coercive that people will comply, so we have to go back to you need to make those phone calls, you need to ring, you need to step away from that phone and think logically about what is being said to you.’
Kathy Sundstrom, National Manager of Outreach & Engagement at IDCARE, explains that scammers are adept at playing with emotions, knowing that the instinct to help one's child can cloud judgment.
Interestingly, it's not just the elderly who are falling victim to these scams. IDCARE's data shows that the 35-to-44-year-old demographic is most likely to engage with the scam, possibly due to their busy lives juggling children, careers, and the care of their own parents.
This age group may not actively seek out information on scams, leaving them vulnerable to such deceptive tactics.
So, how can you protect yourself and your loved ones from falling prey to the 'Hi, Mum' scam? The National Anti-Scam Centre advises scepticism when receiving messages from unknown numbers, even if they appear to come from family or friends.
Always verify by calling the person's known number or using an alternative contact method. If the phone was genuinely lost or damaged, they wouldn't be able to answer.
Ms Sundstrom echoes this sentiment, stating ‘...the best thing you can do is call your child back on the number that you have for them,’
Another safeguard is to establish a family password or safe word for emergencies. This can be a secret code that only you and your family members know, to be used if they need to contact you from an unfamiliar number.
Additionally, be wary of messages that pressure you for a quick response or imply dire consequences if you don't act swiftly.
If you do receive a suspicious message, don't respond. Instead, report it to Scamwatch, even if you haven't lost money. By doing so, you contribute to the collective effort to track and combat these scams.
While technology has brought us closer in many ways, it has also opened the door to new forms of exploitation. The 'Hi Mum' scam is a stark reminder that we must remain vigilant and educate ourselves and our families about the risks lurking in our inboxes.
