Slovenia: Banks warn of rising SMS scams impersonating family members

The Association of Banks in Slovenia has issued a warning regarding a resurgence of SMS scams, often referred to as ‘halo mama’ frauds. In these schemes, scammers impersonate children or other close family members by sending messages from unknown numbers claiming they have a new phone number due to a lost or damaged device.

Once contact is established, typically through messaging apps like WhatsApp or Viber, the fraudsters create a sense of urgency to request financial assistance. Common tactics include asking victims to pay bills on their behalf, provide funds for a new phone, or purchase prepaid gift cards. The primary goal is to obtain money or sensitive financial information, such as credit card details.

Authorities advise citizens to remain vigilant if they receive messages from unknown numbers claiming to be relatives, especially if the sender requests immediate money transfers or redirects the conversation to encrypted messaging platforms.