Fraudsters have adopted a new tactic to deceive vulnerable individuals and extract cash from them. In a recent case, a scammer engaged in a four-day-long WhatsApp conversation with an elderly woman, pretending to be her daughter. The scammer managed to convince the woman to transfer £3,500 under the pretext of purchasing a much-needed laptop. Finance experts are now issuing warnings about the rise of “Hi mum” scams, as more individuals narrowly escape having their savings plundered, thanks to automated bank checks. These unscrupulous individuals pose as the children of their victims and send messages claiming to have a new phone number due to a loss or damage.
Professor Steven Murdoch, a cybersecurity expert, advises the public to be cautious of these convincing scams, as they fall under the category of Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud. APP fraud occurs when someone is tricked into sending money to a fraudulent person posing as a legitimate payee, according to the Payment Systems Regulator. Murdoch warns that scammers often create a sense of urgency, using tactics like making the situation sound dire and pressuring their targets. He further explains that the “Hi mum” scam is unique because it spans several days and relies on building trust. Murdoch notes that scammers used to spoof phone numbers, but this tactic has become less common due to phone companies taking preventative measures.
Murdoch points out that while banks have automated security checks in place, the effectiveness of these checks varies, and banks do not disclose exact details to prevent manipulation. Additionally, some of these systems are not as advanced as many assume, with simple rules and thresholds being implemented. Murdoch believes that criminals can exploit this by asking for one penny less than the threshold to avoid triggering suspicion. His advice to individuals worried about scams like “Hi mum” is to take their time and be skeptical of anyone urging them to act urgently. If unsure, individuals should reach out to someone they trust or contact their bank for assistance.
In the case mentioned earlier, the victim received a text from an unknown number claiming to be her daughter. The scammer initiated a conversation, stating that her phone was damaged and she was using an old one. The conversation continued over the following days, with the scammer gradually building trust. Eventually, the scammer asked the victim to transfer a significant sum of money for purchasing a MacBook. The victim complied but encountered difficulties due to security checks set by her bank. Fortunately, the bank identified the suspicious activity, blocked the victim’s account, and prevented the payment from going through. The victim expressed regret for falling into the trap and feeling violated but thanked the fraud team at Barclays for quickly identifying and stopping the scam.
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