‘Hi Mum’ scam nets $2m from parents

Police are warning of a highly convincing new scam targeting mums and dads.

Festivalgoers are seen in the rain and the mud at Splendour in the Grass 2022 in Byron Bay. Picture: Marc Grimwade / WireImage

Authorities are warning of a highly convincing new scam targeting vulnerable mums and dads, which has already netted at least $2m from unsuspecting Australian parents.

When Louise’s* son was working at the Splendour in the Grass music festival last month, she received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number, claiming to be him.

“Hi Mum, my phone is broken,” the message started. “This is the new number you can sav️e.”

Louise, who is in her late 60s, said she’d chat to her son over the weekend. The next day, she received another message.

Screenshots of victim of the ‘Hi mum’ scam.

 

 

 

“I have to transfer 2 payments for today. But because i have a new phone i can’t do the transaction on my phone and on the computer they say that i have to confirm it in the old banking app,” the message read.

“Can you make these transfers for me? I’ll make sure that you have it back tomorrow.️”

Over the next few hours, the unsuspecting former bookkeeper and English language teaching volunteer made three transfers to an Australian bank account: $3450, $3900 and $4371, totalling $11,721.

She wasn’t suspicious. Her son was working remotely, and the native English “banter” left Louise convinced she was messaging him.

“The flow and tone of the conversation was like any that I would have with my son. The scammer established trust very quickly,” Louise said. “The situation that I imagined he was in influenced me not to question the trust that I had in him.”

Further transfers, had they not been stopped by her bank, could have netted the scammer $20,000.

“I felt completely stupid when I realised that this was a scam and I hadn’t recognised it earlier. It could happen to anyone,” ­Louise said.

NSW Police have now received over 400 reports of successful and unsuccessful attempts of the “Hi Mum” scam, with a significant increase recorded in the last six weeks.

Police say only 20 per cent of actual scams are reported.

Commander of the NSW Police Cybercrime Squad Detective Superintendent Matt Craft, says the use of “simple and emotive” language lures victims into a false sense of security.

“These people are preying on the fact that parents love their kids and want to support their children, which is only natural,” Superintendent Craft said.

Commander of the NSW Police Cybercrime Squad Detective Superintendent Matt Craft. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Mr Craft said it was vital victims report any scam to law enforcement as soon as possible so money can be frozen.

* Louise is a pseudonym.