Featured image: Illustration for “UK Investigates Surge in ‘Add Me on WhatsApp’ Scam Calls”. AI-generated image; not a photograph of the reported event.
The UK’s data watchdog is investigating a surge of automated calls that ask users to ‘add me on WhatsApp’. These calls are suspected to be part of a recruitment scam targeting individuals with offers of part-time work. Source: bbc.co.uk.
What Happened
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) received over 3,600 complaints in September — a five-year high and nearly three times July’s number.
The calls appear to come from UK mobile numbers. Experts say these numbers are likely spoofed. Messages often include phrases like ‘I have a part-time job offer’ to lure people into action.
How the Scam Works
- Recipients are asked to add a number to WhatsApp, often under the guise of a real job offer.
- Once connected, they may be directed to a fake job listing. This could involve money muling — where users unknowingly handle criminal funds.
- Alternatively, the interaction may be a phishing attempt. It aims to collect data on who responds and how they react. That information can be sold on the dark web.
Expert Insights
Simon Fell of the Communications Crime Strategy Group said he can’t confirm the scam’s exact form. But he believes it is ‘most likely’ a recruitment scam.
“They would either put you through to a fake job listing, which might involve some form of money muling. It could look like a completely legitimate job, or something ad hoc, but they might pass criminal funds through your account which can lead to terrible consequences.”
Andy Curry, the ICO’s head of criminal investigations, said complaints are only a small part of the total. He called it a ‘tip of the iceberg’.
Why It Matters
The calls are sent to millions of people. They are not targeted. The ICO warns they may build profiles of vulnerable individuals, raising fraud risks.
Mobile companies are working with regulators and WhatsApp. They aim to stop the spread. WhatsApp has tools to block unknown calls and bans millions of accounts yearly for bad activity.
Government Response
Last November, the UK government promised to end call spoofing within a year. A Home Office spokesperson said it is taking ‘robust action’ to fight scams. It will deliver the Telecommunications Charter by November.
What to Do
- Ignore calls from unknown numbers.
- Block and report suspicious calls to the ICO.
- Never add a number to WhatsApp if you don’t know it.
The ICO advises people to treat these messages as scams. If you receive one, don’t respond. If you’ve been affected, report it through the official form.
For more on fraud and scams, see the original BBC report.
