Parents are being warned of a common Whatsapp scam that is catching people out as fraudsters impersonate people’s kids and loved ones for financial gain.
Scams occurring on the messaging app are becoming more and more common, as a UK expert emphasises the importance of being vigilant in a post-pandemic world.
According to an analysis by Lloyds Bank, criminals have increasingly turned to WhatsApp as an approach to fleece their victims, and by their stats, twice the number of cases have been reported each month so far this year compared to 2021.
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Here’s how the most common Whatsapp scam works and how to avoid falling victim:
Fraudsters typically send the same initial message to lots of different phone numbers at the same time, in the hope that they get a few replies. Once someone has responded, they pretend to be a family member, usually a son or daughter, who has lost their phone and got a replacement.
This gives them an excuse for having a different phone number, and means they don’t need to know someone’s name, just ‘Mum’ or ‘Dad’ can be enough. The story they tell can vary, but most often they will claim that because it is a new phone, they don’t have access to their internet or mobile banking account, and therefore they need urgent help to pay a bill.
Victims will then be tricked into sending money by bank transfer to an account controlled by the fraudster. This type of scam is not limited to WhatsApp, it can also happen via other social media channels.
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds Bank, said: "Fraudsters will stop at nothing to deceive victims and steal their hard-earned cash.
“The emergence of the WhatsApp scam over the last year shows just how quickly these ruthless organised crime gangs will adapt their tactics if they think they can make more money doing something different.
“It’s important that people are aware of the warning signs and how to stay safe. Never trust a message from an unknown number – even if someone tells you they’ve lost their phone, call the original number you have stored to check.
“Fraud is now the UK’s most common crime and banks can't fight it alone, so stopping scams needs to be a shared responsibility. It is vital that government, law enforcement, big tech and social media companies all play their part to tackle the ruthless networks perpetrating these crimes”.
How to stay safe
Be wary of any messages you receive from numbers that aren’t already stored in your contacts, even if it appears to be from someone you know
Don’t be rushed into anything – first of all contact the person on the number you already have stored in your contacts to check if the story is true
If you can’t get hold of them, you can verify the identity of the person sending the message by insisting you speak to them before transferring any money
Remember if it is a genuine family member or friend, they won’t mind you taking these steps to stay safe.
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