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Safety · the UK
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 Police — 101 / report online (999 in an emergency) (101); the accounts used are money mules that the police freeze. Citizens Advice consumer helpline (0808 223 1133) logs the numbers and warns others.

Call firstYour bank — card and payment line
Report toPolice — 101 / report online (999 in an emergency)
If that failsCitizens Advice consumer helpline

🗣️ 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 Police — 101 / report online (999 in an emergency)The messages, the number, the account. Online reporting exists in most countries.
  4. Warn Citizens Advice consumer helpline 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
Police — 101 / report online (999 in an emergency)Local police for any crime that is not fraudBurglary, theft, threats, stalking📞 101🔗 www.police.uk
Citizens Advice consumer helplineConsumer rights, complaint letters, referral to Trading StandardsWhen the shop refuses📞 0808 223 1133🔗 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer
Action Fraud (England, Wales, NI) / Police ScotlandNational reporting centre for fraud and cybercrimeFor online scams and phishing📞 0300 123 2040🔗 www.actionfraud.police.uk

❓ 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 the UK”
  • “whatsapp family scam money back”
  • “child new number asking money scam”
  • “report whatsapp fraud the UK”
  • “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→

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