This has to be one of the most common scams doing the rounds at the moment in North Yorkshire and we have received reports from many residents who have fallen victim to this. Victims receive a WhatsApp message from someone claiming to be their friend/son/daughter saying they have lost their phone and need money urgently to pay a bill. The victim is given instructions on where to send the money. It is only when they speak to their friend/son/daughter do they realise it is a scam. The “Stop. Think. Call.” campaign aims to help educate people on how to protect themselves and their WhatsApp account from message-based scams. More than half (59%) of people have received a message-based scam in the last year or know someone who has, according to a new awareness drive launched by WhatsApp in partnership with National Trading Standards.
Please see the link below for more information
Andy Fox
Financial Abuse Safeguarding Officer
North Yorkshire Police
