Is a WhatsApp message from an unknown number claiming to be my child who lost their phone and needs money urgently a scam?
Almost certainly yes. This is a family emergency impersonation scam and it is one of the fastest growing fraud types targeting parents and grandparents.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
The family emergency scam begins with a WhatsApp message from an unfamiliar number: 'Mum, it's me. I dropped my phone in the toilet/it was stolen/I broke it. This is my temporary number. Please don't call the old one.' Once you accept the story, the new 'child' explains a financial emergency — stranded abroad, owing money to a mechanic, needing rent paid instantly — and asks for a bank transfer.
The scam works by exploiting parental protective instinct and the chaos of an apparent emergency. The fraudster may know your child's name from social media. They maintain pressure and urgency to prevent you from pausing to verify.
The simplest check: end the conversation and call your child on the number you already have saved, or contact them through another family member. If they genuinely cannot be reached, try one more known contact before taking any financial action. In the vast majority of cases, your child is entirely fine and unaware of the message.
Never transfer money to an unknown account based solely on a WhatsApp conversation, regardless of how convincing the story sounds.
Common red flags
- Message from an unknown number claiming to be a family member
- Explains immediately why the old number cannot be called
- Urgent financial need requiring immediate bank transfer
- Requests to keep the contact private for now
- Cannot provide any details only your real family member would know when asked
- Story escalates or additional financial requests follow the first
What to do now
- End the WhatsApp conversation immediately
- Call your child's known number or reach them through another family member
- Ask the alleged child a specific personal question only they could answer
- Do not transfer any money until you have verified the identity through a reliable channel
- If you already transferred money, contact your bank immediately to request a recall
- Report the scam to Action Fraud (UK), the FTC (US), or your equivalent national body
Frequently asked questions
What if I asked a question and they gave a correct answer?
Scammers research targets on social media. They may know names, birthdays, siblings, and other details. The verification that really matters is reaching the real person on a known number.
Can anything be done if money was already sent?
Contact your bank immediately. Many banks have fast recall processes for bank transfers if alerted within hours. Report to local police and your national fraud authority.