The Mum and Dad Scam

What is the scam?

Criminals contact you from an unknown number, pretending to be your child or a family member who needs help.

How does the scam work?

• Criminals will text you pretending to be a family member who has a new number.
• The message will appear from an unknown number.
• The criminal will say they are in financial difficulty and ask for money to be sent to them urgently.

How to stop this scam

• Call the family member on their usual mobile number to check they are OK.
• If you need to engage with the scam text, ask questions only your family member would know.
• Don’t pay anyone unless you know who they really are. If you send money to a criminal through your AIB account, we may not be able to get it back for you.