A message from my "child" with a new number asked for money — is it a scam?
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 Pulizija ta' Malta — għassa tal-pulizija / 112 (112); the accounts used are money mules that the police freeze. MCCAA — Uffiċċju għall-Affarijiet tal-Konsumatur (2395 2000) logs the numbers and warns others.
🗣️ 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
- Verify by callingThe real person on the number you already have. Every time, for any request for money.
- Bank the same hourRecall on a transfer; the receiving bank can freeze it if the money is still there.
- Report to Pulizija ta' Malta — għassa tal-pulizija / 112The messages, the number, the account. Online reporting exists in most countries.
- Warn MCCAA — Uffiċċju għall-Affarijiet tal-Konsumatur and the familyConsumer bodies track the numbers; your family group chat is the best prevention.
- Agree a family passwordA word only you know, asked for whenever someone "new" asks for money.
📇 All contacts
❓ 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
- Pulizija ta' Malta — għassa tal-pulizija / 112 →
- MCCAA — Uffiċċju għall-Affarijiet tal-Konsumatur →
- Cyber Crime Unit (Pulizija ta' Malta) →
🔎 Common searches
Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.
- “hi mum new number scam Malta”
- “whatsapp family scam money back”
- “child new number asking money scam”
- “report whatsapp fraud Malta”
- “voice clone scam call”
🧭 Is this still correct?
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