"My Phone Broke, This Is My New Number" on WhatsApp
A message from an unknown number claims to be your child, parent or sibling with a new phone, then asks for money. How the script works and polite ways to check.
An unknown number messages: "Hi Mum, my phone broke, this is my new number. Save it." A few messages later comes the request: a bill is due today and the banking app will not work on the new phone. Could you pay it for them?
How the script unfolds
- The hook: a vague greeting from a new number, often with no name.
- Building trust: casual chat, sometimes using details from social media.
- The problem: an urgent bill, rent or purchase, and a locked banking app.
- The ask: pay to an account that is not theirs, "the landlord's" or "a friend's".
- The follow-up: a second, larger request if the first one works.
Polite ways to check
- Call the old number. If it rings or they answer, you have your answer.
- Ask for a voice note or call on the new number. Be aware that voices can be cloned. See AI voice notes.
- Ask a question only they would know, or use a family code word.
Never pay to an account in someone else's name because a family member asked by message. Speak to them first.
Related: family emergency and new number scams. If you already paid, see what to tell your bank. For more, see common WhatsApp scams.
Frequently asked questions
How do scammers know my child's name?
Often they do not. They write a vague 'Hi Mum' and let you fill in the name. Sometimes details come from social media.
What is the safest way to check?
Call the old number. If it rings, it was never broken. You can also ask a question only your family member would know.
Why can't they pay the bill themselves?
The script usually claims their banking app is locked on the new phone. That is the lever to get you to pay.
Sources
- Scammers Use Fake Emergencies To Steal Your Money, US Federal Trade Commission
- About suspicious messages and scams, WhatsApp Help Center
- How to protect yourself from suspicious messages and scams, WhatsApp Help Center
