With billions of users across the planet, it’s no surprise that WhatsApp is such a popular target for cyber crooks attempting to cash in. This hugely popular chat platform continues to be firmly in the sights of online criminals, and there’s a particular scam that UK users are being reminded about.
The infamous “Hi mum” attack hasn’t gone away and remains a highly effective way for crooks to steal money from unsuspecting WhatsApp users.
For those not aware, this threat begins with a simple message that usually starts with “Hi mum” or “Hi dad.” If a victim responds, the crooks then start saying that their phone has been lost and that they need money to buy a new one.
It might sound far-fetched, but hundreds of thousands of pounds have been handed to criminals in the UK alone.
Recent stats from Santander UK revealed that fraudsters who pretended to be someone’s son were the most successful. This was then followed by daughters, then mothers.
Now, in a bid to stop more people from become a victim, the team at Action Fraud has released a reminder telling WhatsApp fans to be alert.
“Beware of fraudsters posing as friends or family, and claiming to need urgent financial help,”Action Fraud explained in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“If a family member or friend makes an unusual request on WhatsApp, always call the person outside of WhatsApp to confirm their identity.”
Along with being alert, Action Fraud also says it’s vital to block any strange messages and submit a report if you think you have been a victim of this messaging scam.
Explaining more, Action Fraud said: “Report spam messages or block a sender within WhatsApp. Press and hold on the message bubble, select ‘Report’ and then follow the instructions.
“If you lost money as a result of the scam message, please report it to Action Fraud.”
So, the advice remains clear. If you get a message from an unknown number, do not respond. If the message says it has come from a family member, head to your actual contacts and give them a call. You’ll then find out if it’s a scam.