Hacked Friend Scams on SMS / Text
Scammers text from spoofed or hijacked numbers posing as a friend or relative in trouble, urging an urgent money transfer before you can verify.
Part of: Hacked Friend Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
A hacked friend scam by text often takes the 'family emergency' form: a message from a number claiming to be a child, relative, or friend who has lost their phone and urgently needs money. Stripped to a few lines, it relies entirely on the recipient's instinct to help someone they love.
SMS suits scammers because numbers can be spoofed or freshly acquired, and a short, emotional message gives little chance to spot inconsistencies. The 'new number' framing conveniently explains why the contact is unfamiliar.
How this scam works on SMS / text
The text reads as a friend or relative messaging from a 'new number' after losing or breaking their phone, then quickly pivots to an urgent need for money — a bill, a deposit, a stranded situation — to be sent right away.
Because the sender claims to be someone close, the recipient may transfer funds before checking. The money goes to the scammer, and the 'new number' is discarded afterwards.
The emotional pull of a loved one in trouble, combined with the plausible 'lost phone' story, is engineered to prompt payment before verification.
Common red flags
- A text from an unknown number claims to be a friend or relative on a 'new number'
- The message quickly asks for urgent money
- You are discouraged from calling to confirm, often citing the lost phone
- The request involves a transfer, vouchers, or gift cards
- Details about your relationship are vague or generic
- The story explains away the unfamiliar number
How to protect yourself
- Call the person on their known number before sending any money
- Be sceptical of 'new number' messages requesting urgent funds
- Ask a question only the real person could answer if unsure
- Never send money via irreversible methods on the strength of a text
- Agree a family code word for genuine emergencies
- Delete the message and block the number if confirmed as a scam
How to report it
- Forward the text to your national smishing or spam reporting number where available
- Warn the real friend or relative the scammer is impersonating
- File a report with your local fraud or cybercrime reporting service
Frequently asked questions
I already sent money to the 'new number' text before verifying — what can I do?
Contact your bank or the payment service immediately to ask about reversing or disputing the transfer, since your options depend on the payment method and how quickly you report it. Also try to reach the real person through their known number or another family member to confirm what happened.
What's a good family code word system, and how do we set one up?
Agree privately, in person or over a trusted channel, on a word or phrase that only your family would know, and use it to verify identity during any unexpected request for money or help. Review and update it occasionally, and make sure all relevant family members know it.
Why does the scammer claim to be texting from a 'new number' instead of the real one?
This detail conveniently explains why the number doesn't match your contact list, preempting the natural question of why it's a different number before you even ask it. Treat any unexpected 'new number' message requesting money with extra suspicion, and verify through the person's known number first.
I got a text from my child's 'new number' asking for money — is it real?
The 'new number' family-emergency text is a common scam. Before sending anything, call your child on their known number or ask a question only they could answer. Genuine emergencies survive a quick verification.