A rise in “Hi Mum” scams in recent months triggers the ACCC-run Scamwatch to prompt warnings for family member impersonators asking for help
Now commonly known as the “Family Impersonation” or “Hi Mum” scam, victims are contacted – usually on WhatsApp – by scammers impersonating a family member or friend.
Accroding to Scamwatch more than 1,150 Australians fell prey to the “Hi Mum” scam in the first seven months of 2019, resulting in $2.6 million in reported losses with the a large majority of these scams reported in June and July 2022.
Scamwatch warns that scammers will try to build a rapport by asking for photos or money for their social media profile after establishing a rapport with the victim.
They will claim to have lost or damaged their phone and to be contacting from a new number in order to scam their victim out of money, photos, or information.
In other cases, the scammers appear to have the victim’s contact information and use their name.
ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard says in the last couple of months, we’ve seen an explosion in ‘Hi Mum’ scams, and we are warning Australians to be very wary of messages from unfamiliar numbers claiming to be from their children, parents, relatives, or friends.
According to Rickard a scammer will go to any lengths to get your personal information or money.
“If you get a message, particularly on WhatsApp, stop and think, because it is unlikely to be from a family member or friend—it is more than likely to be a conman.” says Rikard
Cybercrime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Matthew Craft says police have documented a sharp rise in reports of ‘Hi Mum’ scams in the last few months.
More than $1.4 million has been lost by over 55s due to family member impersonation scams and the ACCC is urging anyone who receives suspicious messages from an unknown phone number should independently verify the contact.
Rickard recommends considering asking a personal questions a scammer wouldn’t know the answer to in order to verify who you are speaking to.
“Above all, never send money without being absolutely sure who you are sending it to.” says Rickard.
A total of $227 million was lost by Australian businesses over the 2021 period due to “payment redirection” scams, including business email compromise (BEC) and other digital frauds.
Fraudulently obtained cash can be rapidly moved from bank accounts into untraceable crypto, which makes victims unlikely to recover their money. Police advise that people who’ve been conned contact their bank right away and notify the police.
Scamwatch provides information on how to avoid scams and report them on the Scamwatch website.
The ACCC may also forward your report to foreign law enforcement agencies, in order to share intelligence about scam activity. If necessary, the ACCC may also contact you in order to obtain additional information.
