“Hi Mum, I dropped my phone and I’m texting from a new number — can you help me pay a bill quickly?” The message feels urgent and personal, and that is exactly why the family impersonation text scam works so well. The “child” or “relative” is a stranger. Our GetMyPassword team explains how to recognize this scam and protect yourself and your family.
How the scam works
You receive a text from an unknown number claiming to be your son, daughter or another relative, explaining they have a new or borrowed phone because theirs is lost or broken. After a friendly exchange to build trust, the “relative” hits a snag: they cannot access their banking, and they need you to pay an urgent bill or send money right away, promising to pay you back. There is no emergency and no relative — just a scammer counting on a parent’s instinct to help a child in trouble.
Red flags to watch for
- A new or unknown number claiming to be a family member who lost their phone.
- A quick move to money — an urgent bill, a transfer, or a payment they “can’t make right now.”
- A reason they cannot call or video chat, keeping it to text only.
- Pressure and urgency, discouraging you from checking with anyone else.
- Bank details that are not theirs — money sent to an unfamiliar account.
The one step that defeats it
The scam relies on you never checking. So check. Call your relative on their known number — the one already in your phone — or reach them another way you trust. If the texter resists a call or makes excuses, that is your answer. A real family member will happily prove who they are, and a genuine emergency survives the two minutes it takes to confirm. Never send money based on a text from a number you do not recognize.
The whole scam rests on you not picking up the phone. One call to your relative’s real number ends it — which is exactly why the imposter will give you every reason not to call.
How to protect your family
Talk about this scam with relatives, especially parents and grandparents, and agree that any “new number” money request will always be verified by a call first. Consider a family code word for genuine emergencies. And since these scams often branch into phishing for account access, keep everyone’s logins protected with a unique password from our password generator and two-factor authentication, so a worried moment never opens an account as well as a wallet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the “new number” family text scam?
It is a scam where someone texts from an unknown number pretending to be your child or relative with a lost phone, builds trust, then urgently asks you to pay a bill or send money. There is no real relative or emergency.
How do I check if it is really my family member?
Call them on their known number already in your phone, or reach them another way you trust. If the texter avoids a call or makes excuses, it is a scam. Never send money based on a text from an unrecognized number.
How can my family avoid this scam?
Agree in advance that any “new number” money request is verified by a call first, and consider a family code word for real emergencies. Keep everyone’s accounts protected with unique passwords and two-factor authentication.