"Mum, I'm in trouble": calls and messages pretending to be from relatives
At night a "son", "granddaughter" or "police officer" calls: someone has had a car accident or is in trouble, and money is needed urgently. How to recognise this scam and what to do in one minute to keep your savings safe.
This is one of the cruellest scams, because it uses your fear for the people you love. Most victims are older people, but younger people are caught too.
What it looks like
The phone rings, often at night or early in the morning. A crying voice says: "Mum, it's me, I've had an accident". Then an "investigator", "lawyer" or "doctor" takes the phone and explains that the case can be settled quietly, or that treatment must be paid for urgently. They ask you to send money to a card or to give it to a courier who will come in half an hour.
In messenger apps the scam looks like this: "Hi, it's me, I'm writing from a new number, my old phone broke. I need money urgently, I'll pay you back later".
Why people believe it
- The voice is hard to hear, the person is crying, and in a panic it seems like your relative. Today scammers can also fake voices with AI, using recordings from social media.
- They rush you and do not let you hang up.
- They ask you not to tell anyone, "so it does not get worse".
What to do at once
- Hang up. This is not rude. It is protection.
- Call your relative yourself using the number saved in your phone. If they do not answer, call other family members.
- Ask a check question that only your relative knows the answer to.
- Never give money to couriers and never send it to "investigators". Real police do not work like this.
Agree on a plan with your family in advance
- choose a code word for emergencies;
- tell older relatives about this scam, ideally today;
- agree that if someone says they need money in an emergency, you always call each other back.
If you received a call or message with a story like this, check the number in our [registry](/) and report it. This way you warn other people.