The ‘Friend in Need’ WhatsApp scam is costing victims £1.5million after being reported 1,235 times between February and June
- Between February and June, 1,235 friend-in-need crimes were reported
- The scammers usually send a message on WhatsApp pretending to be a family member
- They explain that they are sending messages from another number because their phone was lost or damaged
A scam in which scammers send text messages posing as a friend or family member in need of money has cost victims over £1.5million this year, it has been revealed.
The “Friend in Need” crime was reported 1,235 times between February and June this year, Action Fraud said.
The scammers usually send a message on WhatsApp claiming to be a family member and start the conversation by addressing the person informally, e.g. E.g. “Hello mom”. They then explain that they are sending messages from a different number because their phone was lost or damaged.
The “friend in need” crime was reported 1,235 times between February and June this year, Action Fraud said
Next, they ask for money to buy a new phone or claim they urgently need money to pay a bill.
The scammer gives their bank details – and sometimes fools the victim multiple times before realizing it.
The shocking cost of this crime highlights the ongoing threat of SMS and WhatsApp scams. Detective Chief Inspector Craig Mullish of the City of London Police said: ‘If you receive a message like this from a friend or family member do not send any money until you have had an opportunity to call them and confirm their identity.’
