28 April 2023 , 10:57
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Parents across the UK are being warned to stay vigilant against a cruel 'hi mum' text message scam, which has already wiped out many bank accounts over the course of the past year.
More than 40 million Brits found themselves the target of scammers in the first half of 2022, and consumer experts now fear such scams will continue to rise.
This is said to be due to a worsening cost of living crisis, with cunning scammers finding new ways to target those struggling amid rising living costs.
The informal messaging style of the 'hi mum' scam means it's now trickier than ever for Brit to differentiate between real and fake text messages. Many parents may well think it's their child asking for help, and won't think twice about replying.
The scammers use informal language to trick parents into thinking they're texting their children (Getty Images/Westend61)If you get a text that reads, "Hi Mum, my phone is broken, I need to buy a new one", then it's highly likely you're being targeted by a scammer.
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These criminals will use your social media accounts to dig out personal information about you and will try and make their messages look genuine and personal by adding kisses at the end.
If you are concerned that your child could actually be messaging you for help, then instead try contacting them directly, or get in touch with a person they might be with if you're unable to get through.
Parents are advised to contact their kids directly should they have any concerns about the text they've received (Stock Photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)John Stirzaker, a consumer expert from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk, said: "It's shocking how many Brits have been approached by scammers in the last year and it's likely this will rise even more in the next year.
"We've all heard the heartbreaking stories of people losing thousands of pounds to scammers, which is why we want to spread awareness of the ways they're currently targeting Brits.
"There are six types of scams that we've found to be spreading across the country currently, including the well-known 'Hi Mum' text which has crippled many parents' bank accounts."
He continued: "But now this text isn't just a straight-forward 'hand me the money my phone is broken', it's now developed where they'll message for days, putting kisses in messages and using social media to use personal information in conversations.
"We urge everyone who has been approached by a scammer to report the incident to Action Fraud and to ring up the bank straight away if any financial transactions were involved, so they're aware of the situation."
Have you been targeted by scammers? Email us at [email protected]