London: UK authorities are investigating a sharp rise in automated phone calls asking people to connect with unknown numbers on WhatsApp, amid concerns that the messages could be linked to recruitment scams and data theft.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection watchdog, received more than 3,600 complaints about automated calls in September, nearly three times the number reported in July and the highest monthly total in five years.
The recorded messages typically originate from numbers appearing to be UK mobile numbers and sometimes promise flexible, part-time work. However, investigators suspect the calls could be a gateway to fraudulent job offers, phishing attempts or other criminal activities.
Simon Fell of the Communications Crime Strategy Group warned that victims could be lured into schemes involving money muling, in which their bank accounts are used to transfer illicit funds. Responding to such messages could also help criminals identify active phone numbers, which may subsequently be exploited or sold.
The ICO believes the complaints represent only a fraction of the people affected, with potentially millions receiving such calls. Investigators are working to identify those responsible and assess the wider impact.
Telecom companies are coordinating with law enforcement, regulators and Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, to tackle the problem. WhatsApp has also highlighted its security features, including the option to silence calls from unknown numbers.
Authorities have urged people to avoid responding to suspicious calls, block the numbers and report them to the relevant authorities.
