Nicky, a 60-year-old mother, was recently targeted by a common scam known as the “Hi Mum” scam. In this scheme, fraudsters pretend to be a family member in need of urgent financial assistance. Nicky received a text from someone claiming to be her daughter AJ, requesting £1,600 to cover a supposed bill. The text explained that AJ had a new phone number due to her phone falling into the toilet.
However, Nicky quickly realized the scam when the imposter used language that didn’t match her daughter’s usual style of communication. She decided to call her daughter directly and confirmed that the texts were indeed a scam. Reflecting on the incident, Nicky noted that the initial message was crafted to appear generic in order to extract personal information.
Fortunately, Nicky didn’t fall victim to the scam and is now sharing her experience to alert others to the deceptive tactics employed by scammers. According to recent research by Santander, impersonation scams have resulted in significant financial losses, with over £1.1 million lost between April and June this year. Friends and family impersonations accounted for a large portion of these losses, with scammers targeting individuals by claiming to be their sons or daughters in need of financial aid.
To avoid falling prey to such scams, Santander advises individuals to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to relevant authorities. If contacted by a potential scammer, it is recommended to verify the identity of the caller independently and refrain from sharing personal or financial information. Changing compromised passwords promptly and notifying your bank of any suspected fraudulent activity are crucial steps in protecting oneself from financial scams.
