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The "Hi Mum" WhatsApp scam
Updated 9 November 2026
A message from an unknown number says "Hi Mum, this is my new number, my phone broke". After a short chat, "your child" asks you to pay an urgent bill. It's a scam. The fix is simple: call your child on their old number before you pay anything.
We do this for you. You don't have to do anything.
- Autopilot sends the request to every company we find, plus dozens of other data brokers that likely hold your data.
- We send the reminders, handle the replies and keep track of the one-month deadline.
- We rescan you every week. If your data comes back, we send a new request.
- All you do is enter your name, confirm your email and give us permission. Free during the beta.
How it works
- You get a WhatsApp from a new number claiming to be your son or daughter.
- They ask you to save the new number and delete the old one.
- Soon they need money fast: a bill, rent, a new phone, because their banking app "doesn't work on the new phone".
- The account they give is not in your child's name.
Red flags
- A new number and an urgent payment in the same chat.
- They avoid a voice call, or the voice sounds off. AI voice clones are now used too.
- The account name doesn't match.
What to do
- Call your child on the number you know.
- Agree a family safe word that a scammer can't know.
- If you paid, call your bank straight away and report it to the police.
Why scammers target you
Scammers buy lists of phone numbers, often with names and ages, from leaks and data brokers. Getting your number removed from those lists makes you a smaller target. Autopilot does that for you.
Questions
Can I get my money back?
Sometimes, if you contact your bank immediately. Speed matters most.
Should I reply to the scammer?
No. Block and report the number in WhatsApp.
More numbers on data brokers, breaches and scams: privacy statistics 2026.