Can the checker guarantee a message is safe?

No. The checker gives general guidance only and cannot guarantee accuracy. Verify through official channels and get help if unsure.

Hi Mum New Number Scam: What to Do Before You Reply

What to check before replying or sending money.

Scam Help helps Australians choose the right next step before they click, before they pay, after they click, or when they need to report.

Stop. Check. Ask Your IT & Tech Mates.

Family or friend impersonationBest for: new number, urgent money, PayID, cannot call.Call the person using an old trusted number before replying.

Quick answer

Do not send money to a new number until you call the person using their old number or another trusted contact method.

30 second decision

Should I click, reply or pay?

Do not click links, reply with private details, pay money or install software from this message.

Check

Call the person using an old trusted number before replying.

Help

If someone already clicked, paid, entered details or installed remote access, start Quick Help.

Check this message now

Example message

“Hi Mum, I lost my phone. This is my new number. Can you PayID me urgently?”

This is a general example only. Do not paste passwords, codes, banking details, card numbers, Medicare details, licence numbers or confidential business records into any public tool.

Warning signs

They say their phone is lost or broken
They ask you to save a new number
They ask for urgent money or PayID
They avoid a phone call

What to do now

Call the person using their old number
Ask another family member to confirm
Do not send money straight away
Use the checker before replying

Australia reporting step

Report or verify through Australian official channels

If the message looks like a scam, keep the message as evidence and report it through Australian Government scam and cyber reporting services. These links open official external sites.

Report a scam to Scamwatch Report cybercrime at cyber.gov.au Read Australian scam guidance

If money, cards, banking, myGov, Medicare, ID documents or business account access were involved, contact your bank or the relevant official service directly first.

Free tool

Check the message before you act

Paste the suspicious wording into the free Scam SMS & Email Checker. It gives general guidance only and cannot guarantee accuracy.

Check a scam message

Why this helps

Built for real users, not security experts.

This short guide is written for family members, seniors, students, workmates and small business owners who need a plain-English answer quickly. It links to the free checker for a risk score and to Quick Help for serious cases.

Plain-English warning signsSafe next stepShare without private detailsLocal help path

Related Scam Help

Is this guide a guarantee?

No. It is general guidance only. Always verify through official channels. In Australia, report scams to Scamwatch and report cybercrime through cyber.gov.au if you clicked, paid, entered details or installed remote access software.