Users of WhatsApp are being urged by experts in the UK to be cautious of a recurring scam known as the “Hi mum” threat. This scam has been targeting individuals for a long time, resulting in significant financial losses for unsuspecting victims who believe their loved ones are in need of urgent financial assistance.
The modus operandi of the scam usually involves initiating a conversation with a simple message like “Hi mum” or “Hi dad,” followed by a plea for financial help due to a fabricated phone loss. This tactic has proven to be highly successful for online fraudsters, making it crucial for everyone to stay vigilant against such schemes.
To raise awareness and prevent more WhatsApp users from falling victim to this scam, Action Fraud has issued a warning advising UK residents to exercise caution.
“Beware of scammers impersonating friends or family members and requesting immediate financial aid,” stated Action Fraud in a message shared on X (formerly Twitter).
The organization emphasized the importance of verifying unusual requests made on WhatsApp by contacting the individual through alternate means to confirm their identity.
Action Fraud also advised recipients of suspicious messages to block the sender within WhatsApp and report any potential instances of falling victim to this scam.
In case of financial losses due to the scam, individuals are urged to report the incident to Action Fraud for further investigation.
The key takeaway is to refrain from responding to messages from unfamiliar numbers and to verify any questionable communication by reaching out directly to known contacts through phone calls to avoid falling prey to fraudulent activities.
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