WhatsApp policy manager, Kathryn Harnett, said: 'WhatsApp protects our users’ personal messages with end-to-end encryption, but we want to remind people that we all have a role to play in keeping our accounts safe by remaining vigilant to the threat of scammers. Don’t give security codes for any accounts to anyone. If you get a request for money in a message, it’s always worth giving the sender a quick call to check the details before you go ahead, even if it’s a close relative.

Thankfully, the mum in the example was clued up and demanded the fraudster tell her which child was contacting her, but official figures show almost £50,000 has already been lost to 'hello mum' and 'hello dad' frauds which begin with a text or phone call from someone purporting to be a son or daughter.Īction Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, said that some victims had lost £3,000 to the scam.įigures from Action Fraud show that 25 instances of the scam have been reported between August and October, with victims losing a combined total £48,356. Might it be okay if you pay the payment until I get back into my banking? That will be on Friday.' 'Because of the security checks which is linked to my old number. 'I have now a payment that must be paid today at the latest. They go on to add: 'Well mum, I can't do the banking by my own phone number. An example of a scammer's conversation on WhatsApp (Image: Which? Consumers)

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