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UK data watchdog investigates surge in 'Add me to WhatsApp' automated scam calls
Overview
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is investigating a five-year high in complaints regarding automated 'robo calls' instructing recipients to add numbers on WhatsApp, which are suspected to be linked to recruitment scams and phishing exercises.
Key points
- The ICO received over 3,600 complaints about automated calls in September, nearly triple the number recorded in July.
- Experts suspect millions of people are receiving these indiscriminate calls, which likely originate from abroad.
- The automated messages often mention part-time work and are suspected to lead to recruitment scams, money muling, or phishing.
- Calls typically appear to originate from UK mobile numbers, though these are spoofed by criminals.
- The ICO advises the public to ignore calls from unknown numbers and to block and report suspicious activity.