WhatsApp Warning: UK Parents Scammed Out of £500K by AI That Pretends to Be Their Kids

Maggio 6, 2025

  • Scammers are using AI to clone children’s voices and send fake emergency WhatsApp messages to parents
  • Nearly £500,000 has been stolen from UK victims through over 500 WhatsApp scams in 2025 alone
  • Experts urge families to use secret code words and always verify money requests with a direct phone call

A wave of AI-powered scams is sweeping across WhatsApp, costing UK families nearly half a million pounds in 2025 alone and it’s only May.

Cybercriminals are now combining old tricks with new tech. In the evolving “Hi Mum” scam, fraudsters impersonate a loved one over WhatsApp and ask for emergency cash.

The twist

They’re now using AI-generated voice messages to mimic children’s voices, making the deception frighteningly convincing.

“Scammers are increasingly getting better at manipulating people… cloning any voice is now simple, even in a matter of moments,”says Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET.

By the numbers:

  • 506 WhatsApp scams since Jan 2025
  • Victims lost £490,606 ($651,230)
  • April alone: 135 cases, £127,417 lost

How it works:

  1. You get a WhatsApp from an unknown number: “Hi Mum, I lost my phone.”
  2. They claim they’re locked out of their bank.
  3. They send a voice note and it sounds like your child.
  4. They ask you to urgently transfer money to a new account.

A screen-grab excerpt of the WhatsApp ‘Hi mum’ text scam. Photograph: Santander

The danger

Scammers scrape social media for voice clips and personal details. Then they use generative AI to clone the voice and craft a believable story.

“I was able to fool my own mother with an AI version of my voice,” Moore admits.

Who’s at risk:

  • Parents with active kids on social media
  • Elderly users less familiar with AI tricks
  • Anyone receiving messages from unfamiliar numbers

What you can do:

  • Always call back using a saved number before sending money
  • Set up family ‘code words’ to verify real emergencies
  • Never send money to a new account without confirmation
  • Report scams to 7726 (UK scam reporting line)
  • If you fall victim, contact your bank immediately

Stay vigilant

AI scams are advancing fast. WhatsApp, though encrypted, can’t stop someone with your number from messaging you.

“These scams are evolving at breakneck speed,” says Chris Ainsley, head of fraud at Santander.

AI has supercharged a common scam. If your child “calls” from a strange number asking for money, think twice. Then call them on the number you know.

Partecipa al futuro


ISCRIVITI OGGI

Chiaro, conciso, completo. Per conoscere gli sviluppi dell'IA con DailyAI

Angelika Ibon

Angelika is a content creator with years of experience across various industries, now diving into the world of AI. With a passion for AI and a love for content creation, she enjoys combining both to share insightful and engaging content.

×

PDF GRATUITO ESCLUSIVO
Rimanere all'avanguardia con DailyAI

Iscriviti alla nostra newsletter settimanale e ricevi l'accesso esclusivo all'ultimo eBook di DailyAI: 'Mastering AI Tools: La tua guida 2024 per una maggiore produttività".

*Iscrivendosi alla nostra newsletter si accetta la nostra Informativa sulla privacy e il nostro Termini e condizioni