"Hi Mom, this is my new number": what to do if your "kid" texts asking for money

"Hi Mom, this is my new number": what to do if your "kid" texts asking for money

"Hi Mom, I dropped my phone in the toilet, this is my new number, save it and delete the old one." Or "Hey Dad, my phone broke, I'm texting from a friend's." It arrives by text or WhatsApp from a number that isn't in your contacts and, a little later, the urgency shows up: a bill has to be paid today and "your kid" can't do it from their own bank app. If you have this message open right now, stop for a moment: this is one of the most common family impersonation scams, and a single call to your child's usual number takes it apart. Here's what to do, step by step.

How exactly does this scam work?

The script is almost always the same, and knowing it is half the defense:

1. The hook. A message from an unknown number: "Hi Mom/Dad, this is my new number." No name, because the scammer doesn't know it. They're counting on you to fill in the blank ("Is this Emily?") and hand them the name yourself.
2. The excuse for the new number. The phone broke, got lost, or was stolen, or "it's a temporary number." That explains why the number is new and why they can't take a call right now.
3. Building trust. A few casual messages, sometimes with emojis or the way young people text, to make it feel familiar.
4. The urgency. "I need to pay a bill/rent/repair today and my banking app is locked on the new phone. Can you send it and I'll pay you back tomorrow?" The money goes by Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or a wire transfer, almost always to a name that isn't your child's ("it's my landlord's," "it's my friend's account").
5. The second request. If the first payment goes through, another one follows soon: "there's one more bill," "I came up short."

Behind it there's no hacker who knows your family: they're mass campaigns sent to thousands of numbers. Anyone with kids, or anyone who just plays along, can take the bait. The same idea is behind the "grandparent scam," where someone calls pretending to be a grandchild in trouble.

What are the red flags in the message?

• An unknown number that doesn't give a name. Your real child would say who they are without making you guess.
• "I can't talk right now." They avoid calls and voice notes: "the mic is broken," "I'm at work," "I'll call you later."
• Money to someone else's account. A name you don't recognize as the recipient is the clearest signal.
• Urgency and secrecy. "It has to be today," "don't tell Dad, I'll explain later."
• Odd writing. Expressions your child doesn't use, a different tone, or overly formal phrasing.

One of these signs is enough to stop and verify.

What do I do right now if I've received one?

1. Don't reply with your child's name or any personal details. Don't ask "Is this Emily?": that gives them information.
2. Call your child on the number you already have saved. If the phone really is broken, the call won't connect, but you can reach them another way: their partner, a roommate, a sibling, or another family member.
3. Ask a question only your real child would know: something personal that isn't on social media.
4. Don't send money until you've confirmed it by voice, through a channel you trust.
5. Block and report the number on WhatsApp ("Block" and "Report") or, if it came by text, forward it to 7726 (SPAM) so your carrier can act.

A real child won't mind you checking. A scammer will put pressure on you or disappear.

What if I've already sent the money?

Act fast, because every hour counts:

1. Call your bank right away using the number on the back of your card or in its official app, and tell them it was a scam. Ask whether the payment can be stopped or recalled. With Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App, money often moves instantly and can be hard to get back, but your bank or the app needs to know as soon as possible.
2. Report it inside the payment app as well, marking the transaction as fraud.
3. Save the evidence: screenshots of the conversation, the phone number, the recipient's name and the payment confirmation.
4. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Also file a report with your local police: your bank may ask for it.
5. Don't pay a second time, even if the "child" now insists there's another emergency.

There's more on what to do after a phone or text scam on the NoCall blog.

How do I protect my family for next time?

• Agree on a family code word that anyone has to say when asking for money in an emergency.
• Tell your parents and grandparents about this scam. Older relatives are often the main target.
• Keep your family's numbers saved, and get into the habit of calling instead of texting whenever money is involved.
• Set your social media profiles to private: the fewer family details are public, the harder it is to impersonate you.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has a page on grandparent scams with more examples of how these family emergency stories are told.

Frequently asked questions

How did they get my number? Usually they didn't pick you: they bought lists of numbers or got them from data breaches, and they send the same message to thousands of people. That's why it sometimes reaches people who don't even have children.

They wrote exactly like my daughter. How is that possible? They use generic expressions that fit almost any young person. If you have any doubt, the test is the same: call her usual number.

Can I get the money back? Sometimes, if you act quickly. Call your bank immediately and report it. The sooner you do, the better the chances.

What if they also ask for a verification code? Never share it. A six-digit code sent by text is the key to your accounts, including your WhatsApp. Nobody legitimate needs you to read it out to them.

In summary

"Hi Mom, new number" relies on surprise and on how much you love your kids. The way to defuse it fits in one line: before sending any money, call your child's usual number. If you've already paid, call your bank and report it right away. And if you received the message, report the number in the NoCall spam numbers directory: your report helps other families see it coming.