← FFCheckWho do I contact?PT
Safety · Portugal
Updated September 2026

📲 A message from my "child" with a new number asked for money — is it a scam?

Direct answer

Yes. The "Hi mum, new number, can you pay this bill for me" message is the most common scam in Europe, now also by voice with cloned voices. Call your child on the old number. If you already paid, call Your bank — card and payment line immediately — a transfer can sometimes be recalled within the day — and then report to Queixa Eletrónica — PSP / GNR (queixaselectronicas.mai.gov.pt); the accounts used are money mules that the police freeze. Livro de Reclamações eletrónico — DGC (livroreclamacoes.pt) logs the numbers and warns others.

Call firstYour bank — card and payment line
Report toQueixa Eletrónica — PSP / GNR
If that failsLivro de Reclamações eletrónico — DGC

🗣️ What to say

"I received a message on [date] from [number] claiming to be my [son/daughter] and asking me to transfer [amount] to [account]. I paid at [time]. I now know it was fraud. Please recall the transfer and tell me the case reference for the police report."

🪜 Step by step

  1. Verify by callingThe real person on the number you already have. Every time, for any request for money.
  2. Bank the same hourRecall on a transfer; the receiving bank can freeze it if the money is still there.
  3. Report to Queixa Eletrónica — PSP / GNRThe messages, the number, the account. Online reporting exists in most countries.
  4. Warn Livro de Reclamações eletrónico — DGC and the familyConsumer bodies track the numbers; your family group chat is the best prevention.
  5. Agree a family passwordA word only you know, asked for whenever someone "new" asks for money.

📇 All contacts

Your bank — card and payment lineRecall a transfer, chargeback, block a card, freeze the accountImmediately, 24/7 — the number is on the back of your card
Queixa Eletrónica — PSP / GNROnline criminal complaint, case number immediatelyAlways — the basis for bank, insurer and platform🔗 queixaselectronicas.mai.gov.pt
Livro de Reclamações eletrónico — DGCComplaint with a mandatory answer within 15 working daysWhen the shop refuses🔗 www.livroreclamacoes.pt
Polícia Judiciária / PSP — queixa eletrónicaOnline complaint for fraud and phishingFor online scams and phishing📞 112🔗 queixaselectronicas.mai.gov.pt

❓ Frequently asked

The voice was my child's

Voice cloning from a few seconds of social-media video is now cheap. Hang up and call back on the known number — a real emergency survives a callback.

Can I get the money back?

Sometimes, if the bank acts within hours. After that, only if the police freeze the mule account. Report anyway.

They knew my child's name

Names come from leaked data and social media. It proves nothing.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

  • “hi mum new number scam Portugal”
  • “whatsapp family scam money back”
  • “child new number asking money scam”
  • “report whatsapp fraud Portugal”
  • “voice clone scam call”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

🎯Phishing message→💳Scammed online→🆔Identity theft→💻Online harassment→

Your tools for Portugal

Before it goes wrongCan I?What is allowed, what is not, which permit you need — with the official source.Energy · PortugalElectricity & gasThe rules that protect you as an electricity and gas customer in Portugal, and who to contact. Every fact is checked on an official source.Recognise it firstIs dit veilig?Check a phone number, website or message against 47,000 scam dossiers.