Australian parents fall victim to ongoing "Hi Mum" scam

Three years after the “Hi Mum” scam first appeared in Australia, many parents are still falling victim to this emotional fraud. The scam involves someone pretending to be a family member in urgent need of money. Kylee Dennis, a former police officer who runs a scam investigation business, found out her mother nearly fell for the scam when she received a text message. It claimed to be from Kylee and said she needed $4,750 to pay a bill because her phone was broken. Pressure from the scammer made Kylee’s mother almost send the money. Fortunately, Kylee called her back just in time. The scam became known in Australia in 2022. Reports show a significant rise in calls about it. In 2024, IDCARE, a cyber support charity, received 238 calls about this scam, up 37.5 percent from 173 the previous year. Kathy Sundstrom, the charity's National Manager, said many cases have already been reported in 2025. Sundstrom noted that the scammers are often organized crime groups based abroad. They adapt their tactics but the “Hi Mum” lure remains effective, especially for parents. Scammers play on emotions, making it easy for people to react quickly without thinking. While it may seem the elderly are the most vulnerable, data shows that people aged 35 to 45 are actually the most likely to report engagement with such scams. This age group is often busy with family and work, which may make them less aware of current scams. To avoid falling for similar scams, the National Anti-Scam Centre advises people not to assume that messages from unknown numbers are legitimate. They recommend calling the person back using an existing contact number. It’s also wise to ask a personal question only a family member would know. Setting up a safe word for emergencies can add another layer of security. The National Anti-Scam Centre encourages anyone who receives a suspicious message to report it, irrespective of whether they lose money or not.