Help and guidance
Helping your parents with WhatsApp scams
Want to help your parents without taking over? Choose a calm moment together and agree on a few simple rules. Let them choose whom they trust.
Do this first
- Call the person yourself on the old, known number, not the number in the message.
- Do not transfer money when in doubt and do not share codes.
- Already sent money? Contact your bank immediately using its official number.
Practise together without blame
Look at a “Hi mum, new number” example. Ask what your parent would do. Anyone can be scammed; blame makes it harder to ask for help.
Try the free exercise together. No account is needed and no real request is sent. It is not an exam or proof that someone will always recognise fraud.
Agree on one consistent process
For an unexpected money request: pause, call the old number yourself and ask about the exact amount, recipient and purpose. No contact means waiting, not paying anyway.
Want to use Torivela? Link personally beforehand and compare your safety words together. A later Yes only confirms that request through the linked account and its security key.
Banking: keep codes and screen access private
Do not share a PIN, password or confirmation code, even with someone claiming to work for your bank. Do not let a stranger remotely access your phone or computer.
Open your bank app yourself or call the official bank number. Do not use links or numbers from suspicious messages. Torivela does not assess bank accounts or payment pages.
Support without taking control
Make a list of known numbers together. A carer or relative does not automatically gain access to private requests or financial matters.
Still unsure? Do not transfer money. Already paid? Contact the bank immediately and keep the conversation.
Torivela offers an extra check of one specific request outside the original chat through a trusted contact personally linked beforehand. It is not an automatic phishing or URL scanner and does not guarantee identity, sender, IBAN or payment. Security has not yet been independently reviewed.