Fake family messages: “Hi Mum, this is my new number” can lead to serious losses
A message from your child or another loved one may seem ordinary. A scammer exploits family trust, explains a changed phone number and moves within a few messages to asking for money.
What is happening?
Choose the closest situation. A familiar name, profile picture or writing style does not by itself prove identity.
I received a message from a new number
“Hi Mum, new number”, a broken phone or a new SIM card.
View the steps →My relative is using their normal account
You recognise the contact, but the request for money or a payment QR code is unusual.
View the steps →They want money or an invoice paid
Your relative supposedly cannot use online banking and needs urgent help.
What to verify →I have already sent money
You paid and then doubts or another request appeared.
Open urgent response steps →How a fake family message works
A changed phone explains the unusual contact, and urgency discourages independent verification.
Unexpected message
“Hi Mum, this is my new number.”
Explanation for the change
The phone broke, fell in water, the SIM stopped working or banking is unavailable.
Brief everyday conversation
The offender creates the impression of normal family contact.
A problem appears
A phone, invoice, debt or another urgent expense supposedly needs payment.
Payment to another person’s account
The account often does not belong to the supposed relative, and the recipient may be unfamiliar.
Another request
A second or third payment request may follow.
The message may not come from an unknown number
An offender may also take over a relative’s real messaging account and write from it.
Variant A: “I have a new number”
An unknown number poses as a child, grandchild or other relative.
Typical explanation:a broken phone, new SIM, faulty microphone or banking problem.
Variant B: the real account is taken over
The attacker accesses a messaging account and sends requests for money to saved contacts.
The risk:the name, photo and conversation history can all look correct.
“Dad, I need money for a new phone”
Why the supposed relative cannot solve it themselves
The story explains the new number, inability to call and why your immediate help is supposedly needed.
My phone broke
The original device supposedly stopped working.
My phone fell in water
That supposedly prevents use of the old number or banking.
I have a new phone number
You are asked to save the new contact immediately.
I cannot sign in to my bank
Someone else supposedly has to make the payment.
I need to pay an invoice
The supposed obligation cannot wait.
I need a new phone
The money supposedly replaces the broken device quickly.
I must pay today
Time pressure leaves less room for checking.
I will pay you back tomorrow
A short-term loan is made to look less risky.
The offender exploits family trust
People naturally want to help when a child or loved one seems to be in difficulty.
Family bond
A message apparently from a child can lower a parent’s suspicion.
Urgency
“I must pay today.” Pressure prevents calm checking.
An excuse for not calling
A broken phone or microphone explains text-only communication.
Few details needed
“Mum” or “Dad” may be enough for the recipient to fill in the rest of the story.
When to pause and verify
One sign may not prove fraud. Several together mean you should not pay without independent verification.
Message from an unknown number
Contact details change suddenly without prior notice.
Sudden phone change
A new phone or SIM explains the unusual contact.
Refusing calls
Every attempt to call is met with another excuse.
Time pressure
Money must be sent immediately or today.
Payment to someone else’s account
The recipient does not match your supposed relative.
Instant payment or QR code
You are told to scan and approve a transfer without further checks.
More demands after the first payment
One transfer is followed by a new problem and another amount.
Generic greeting without a name
“Mum” or “Dad” without independently verified personal details.
STOP — CALL — CHECK
Verify a loved one’s financial request through a different, previously trusted channel.
Stop
Do not respond with an immediate payment. Make time to verify.
Call
Use the original known number, not the new number in the message.
Check
Contact another family member or meet in person. Private questions can be an extra check, but are not a substitute for an independent trusted channel.
Agree a simple family verification rule
Make sure everyone knows that a request for money from a new number is never handled through text alone.
“Any request for money from a new number must be verified by calling the original number or through another trusted family member.”
Do not skip verification when money is requested
Do not send money based only on a message
Text alone does not establish identity.
Do not automatically scan a payment QR code
Verify the person and purpose first.
Do not immediately save the new number as your child
Doing so creates a false trusted contact in your own phone.
Do not automatically accept “I cannot call”
The inability to call is often part of the story.
Do not send another payment
Another amount will not normally recover the first.
Do not share banking secrets
Do not share card security details, bank credentials or verification codes.
Tools can support your judgement, but cannot verify who controls a messaging account. Verify the person independently before paying.
What to do after each step
Stop further payments and save the conversation before blocking the account.
I only received a message from a new number
- Do not act on financial requests.
- Call the original number.
- Check with another family member.
- Keep the message and phone number.
- Then report and block the suspicious account.
They are using a genuine WhatsApp or other familiar account
- Still verify the request through a trusted independent call or in person.
- Do not pay just because you recognise the contact.
- Contact your relative through another channel.
- Warn them of possible account takeover.
- Warn other family members about similar requests.
I sent money
- Contact your bank immediately through its official number.
- Ask whether the payment can be reviewed or stopped. Recovery is not guaranteed.
- Make no further transfers.
- Keep the conversation, account number, amount and time.
- Contact your local police.
I followed a link or signed in to a messaging account
- If account access was exposed, review linked devices and end unfamiliar sessions through the official app.
- Secure or recover the account through the service’s official process.
- Check for changes to security and recovery details.
- Warn contacts if fraudulent messages may have been sent from your account.
- Never share verification codes.
Act quickly after sending money
Contact your bank through an official channel without waiting for more explanations from the supposed relative.
What to keep
Keep information linking the message, account and any financial transaction.
Phone number
Include the country code and time of the first message.
Profile or account
WhatsApp, Messenger or another messaging service.
Full conversation
First message, story, request for money and further instructions.
Payment QR code
If it was included in a request for an immediate transfer.
Bank account number
Account, recipient and other payment information.
Payment confirmation
Amount, date, time and transaction ID.
Fake family messages — FAQ
How can I check that it is really my child?
Verify outside the current chat. Call the original known number or contact another trusted family member.
What if it came from their real WhatsApp account?
That still does not prove who is writing. The account may have been taken over. Verify financial requests through another trusted channel.
Can I identify them by their writing style?
Not reliably. An offender can imitate short messages or use earlier conversations. Writing style is not dependable identity verification.
What if they genuinely cannot make a call?
Contact another family member or use another previously trusted method. Inability to call is no reason to skip verification.
Does a foreign phone number automatically mean fraud?
No. It is only one possible sign. Fraud can also come from a local number or a real account that was compromised.
What if I already sent money?
Call your bank immediately, send no more money, preserve the conversation and transaction information, and contact local police.
What if I followed a link and signed in to WhatsApp?
Review linked devices and sessions, secure or recover the account through official channels, warn affected contacts and never share verification codes.
Where can I report the message?
Report the account to the platform. Contact local police if you suspect a crime or suffered loss. You can also send a report to DPP.
Received a message impersonating a relative?
Keep the number, conversation, QR code and payment information. A DPP report does not replace contacting your bank or police. DPP’s form is currently in Czech.