How does this scam work?

[Whereisthehugeteddybear]

The other evening I got a text that said

Hi mum my phone is broken using a friend's to message you but there (sic) phone is about to die please can you WhatsApp me on this number <insert new number>

I had already heard of the scam but in any case both my kids were in the house, one was in the same room! I just blocked the number but wondered how it works. If I had clicked on the number (I didn't because I knew it was a scam) what would happen? I've seen ones before where they ask you to transfer money, but does anything happen by clicking the number itself?

I think they message you on WhatsApp trying to make normal conversation then ask for money for a new phone

I think they start up a dialogue with you and eventually ask for you to transfer money for new phone.

They will say their card has been stolen or account frozen, or they have unexpected medical expenses, so can you transfer £ to "friend" ... and repeat.

I don't really understand why anyone would use a friends phone to text when they already have a new number. And if they have a new number then they must be using a phone, so why are they asking for money for a new phone. It makes no sense to me at all. Do the scammers do this on purpose to weed out less gullible people, or are the scammers just idiots?

It's a common scam for kids at university especially.
Your kid messages you to say they've lost all their money/phone etc. You transfer some to a "friend" account.

This happened to my mum, she immediately deleted my number and added the new one. The scammer then instantly asked for £3000! Which I would never do.
My poor mum was really upset as she thought she'd lost our WhatsApp chat with all the DC photos etc. I told her if it ever happens again to phone my old number or phone my DP! It's easier than you realise to con people, sadly.