Fox News
Hi Mom text scam: How to spot fake emergency texts
Sunday, July 5, 2026
A text message scam known as the "Hi Mom" scheme begins with a message claiming to be from a child in an emergency situation. The sender requests the recipient reply to the message. Once contact is established, the scammer escalates requests to include money transfers or asks for personal verification codes. The Federal Trade Commission has documented reports of this scam since at least 2021.
Original reporting: https://www.foxnews.com/tech/hi-mom-text-scam-how-to-spot-fake-emergency-texts
