Hi Mom text scam: How to spot fake emergency texts

A scam text showed up today that would make many parents stop cold. The message said: "Hi mom, text me here on my work phone. Dropped my actual phone in the sink earlier and it's completely unresponsive now." The text came from an unknown number. Then it asked me to text a different unknown number. That detail is important. The scammer wants to move you into a new conversation before you stop and verify who is really on the other end. The message seems personal right away. There is no weird link