Warning over new heatwave-themed ‘hi mum’ text scam sent to British phones - Yahoo News UK

These crooks are exploiting the heatwave to catch people off-guard with fabricated 'hi mum' messages designed to trigger panic and bypass your critical thinking. Don't respond to unexpected texts claiming to be family members in distress — ring them directly on a number you know.

Stop and think before you act. If something feels urgent, threatening, or too good to be true — that urgency is the weapon. Scammers use pressure to override your judgement. Nothing is ever so urgent that you can't take five minutes to check, call back on a number you found yourself, or ask someone you trust.