A new scam spreading across messaging services — especially WhatsApp — is scamming parents and friends out of hundreds of dollars with alarming effectiveness. The plan typically starts out with a benign text like, “Hi mom,” or something. It says that the recipient’s friend has lost their phone. This tactic has been shown to be successful, even among customers of the big banks such as Santander.
Based on findings from Santander, sons impersonating their victims’ sons have become the most effective scammers carrying out this con. Almost immediately, daughters feign helplessness and nip at your heels. At the same time, mothers use themselves as shields in these disturbing ads. Fraudsters most commonly use their own accounts to execute their schemes. In so doing, they enlist third-party accounts as money mules, further obscuring the trail of illicit funds.
How the Scam Works
After replying to the first message, scammers tend to follow up with information about bank account or other account transfer details. The scammer often pretends the account is for a “friend” or a person they’re in debt to. Usually, these specifics truly do belong to somebody else. The sum requested tends to look random and is hardly ever a round number—additional evidence that the scam is a fraud.
Chris Ainsley, head of fraud risk management at Santander, says these scams are continuously changing. He stated, “We’re hearing of instances where AI voice impersonation technology is being used to create WhatsApp and SMS voice notes, making the scam seem ever more realistic.” This development in technology is making it more difficult for victims to tell genuine discussions apart from deceptive ones.
Reporting and Prevention
Victims of this scam should move immediately. If you’ve already sent the funds, Ainsley recommends that you call the bank immediately. They can assist you in figuring out how to avoid making the payment. You can go to Action Fraud to report these scams. This free service goes a long way in building awareness and could save other consumers from falling victim to other scams.
Screenshots of the scam messages, including fake conversations and bank details, are circulating to educate individuals about the signs of this fraudulent activity. By educating themselves, prospective victims can do a better job of protecting themselves from these types of trickery.