A WhatsApp scam which sees fraudsters target parents pretending to be their children has resurfaced.
The messages begin with either begins 'Hi Mum' or 'Hi Dad'. The scammer says they are messaging from a different, unknown phone because they have lost or damaged their own. Preying on emotions, the fraudster pretends they are in trouble and need their parent's help.
The scammer usually requests a large amount of money, saying because they have lost or damaged their phone they are unable to pay an urgent bill. In recent months, the scam has conned parents out of thousands of pounds.
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BBC football commentator Jacqui Oatley said her mum was recently targeted. Sharing her experience on Twitter, Jacqui said: "I’m keen to warn you about a scam which my lovely, kind mum so nearly fell for. It was incredibly believable.
"Someone pretends to be you but on a different number, contacts someone close to you and asks them to quickly pay a bill for you before you pay them back. Mum in green."
Posting screenshots of the WhatsApp conversation, the contact 'Jacqui Oatley' appears as the sender. The conversation looks incredibly realistic, with the scammer even responding to messages about Jacqui's daughter Phoebe.
The scammer, pretending to be Jacqui, explained how they have had "the worst day ever". They go on to say how they can no longer pay their bills using online banking because they have a new number.
The scammer said: "I've got bills that I need to pay but I can't get into my online banking because it's on my old phone and this number is not registered to my bank and it will take about two days to register. Could you pay them for me? I'll pay it back this week."
Sending a set of bank details, they requested Jacqui's mum send £2,291.34 and proof of payment. They add how "stressed" they are.
Fortunately, Jacqui's mum stopped responding at this point. However, the convincing nature of the conversation prompted Jacqui to share a warning with her followers.
How to protect yourself
- If you receive a similar message that’s asking you for money, speak with the person over the phone to verify they are who they say they are.
- You can report spam messages or block a sender within WhatsApp. Press and hold on the message bubble, select ‘Report’ and then follow the instructions.
Action Fraud advises that the public follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to keep themselves safe from fraud.
- Stop: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
- Challenge: Could it be fake? It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
- Protect: If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
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