---
title: "“Hi Mom, new number” scams: how to spot one | URLert"
description: "Your child, a friend or your boss, writing from a new number, asking for money or a favour now. How to check it's really them before you send anything."
url: https://www.urlert.com/scams/hi-mom-new-number
mcp: https://www.urlert.com/mcp
---

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# “Hi Mom, new number”

Your child, a friend or your boss, writing from a new number, asking for money or a favour now. How to check it's really them before you send anything.

A WhatsApp from +1 555 0121

+1 555 0121

Hi Mom, it's me. I dropped my phone, this is my new number. Can you save it?

I need to pay a bill today but my banking app won't work on the new phone. Can you pay it for me? I'll pay you back tomorrow.

On this page

1. What it looks like
2. How to spot one
3. What to do
4. Already acted?
5. Similar scams

## What it looks like

A WhatsApp from +1 555 0121

+1 555 0121

Hi Mom, it's me. I dropped my phone, this is my new number. Can you save it?

I need to pay a bill today but my banking app won't work on the new phone. Can you pay it for me? I'll pay you back tomorrow.

A WhatsApp

Hi, it's David. I'm in a meeting and can't talk. I need you to buy five gift cards for a client and send me the codes.

A call

The caller says

“Grandma, it's me. I'm in trouble and I need money for bail. Please don't tell Mom.”

Examples. The names and amounts change; the shape doesn't.

## How to spot one

1. **A new number, and a reason they can't talk:** a broken phone, a meeting, a bad line.
2. **Money now:** a bill, a fee or gift cards, paid to someone else's account.
3. **Secrecy:** “don't tell Mom”, “keep this between us”.
4. **A voice can be faked too.** A short clip from the internet is enough to copy one.
5. **It can come from their real account.** Accounts get hacked, so a message from a friend's own profile can still be a scam.

## What to do

1. **Don't send anything yet.** Call them on the number you already have, or call someone close to them.
2. **Ask something only the real person would know.**
3. **Agree a family word** to use in a real emergency.
4. **Still not sure?** [Check the message](https://www.urlert.com/index.md). We open its link on a phone and a computer, not yours, and tell you what it is.

### Already sent money or replied?

- [I sent money](https://www.urlert.com/recover/money.md)
- [I replied or called](https://www.urlert.com/recover/replied.md)

## Similar scams

- [Online romance](https://www.urlert.com/scams/online-romance.md)
- [How scams pretend](https://www.urlert.com/scams/how-scams-pretend.md)
- [Messages that want you to call or reply](https://www.urlert.com/scams/call-or-reply.md)

On this page

1. What it looks like
2. How to spot one
3. What to do
4. Already acted?
5. Similar scams

[URLert home](https://www.urlert.com/index.md)

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