UK Data Watchdog Investigates Surge in WhatsApp Recruitment Scam Calls
· World · BBC News
The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is investigating a sharp rise in automated "robo calls" that attempt to lure recipients into recruitment scams via WhatsApp. The watchdog recorded over 3,600 complaints in September, marking a five-year high and nearly triple the volume reported in July. These calls typically originate from UK mobile numbers and often feature recorded messages offering part-time work. Experts warn that these scams may lead to money muling, where victims unknowingly process criminal funds, or serve as phishing operations to harvest active phone numbers for the dark web. The ICO believes the true number of affected individuals reaches into the millions, as the current complaint data likely represents only a small fraction of the total victims.
Why it matters
The scam poses a significant risk to the public, as victims may be tricked into facilitating money laundering or exposing their personal data to criminal networks. The investigation aims to identify the perpetrators and the scale of the operation to mitigate further financial and security risks.
Read the original report — BBC News
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