The article discusses the evolving WhatsApp scam that targets parents, wherein fraudsters impersonate their children to extract money. It elaborates on how these scams often start with texts claiming the sender has lost their phone and requires financial help. The piece also highlights the importance of ongoing journalism, particularly during crucial times in U.S. history, and encourages donations to allow journalists to continue providing objective reporting. The significance of the financial losses reported is underscored with statistics showing how effective these scams have become.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
Parents have been urged to stay alert as experts warn a WhatsApp scam in which fraudsters target mothers and fathers while pretending to be their children is evolving at breakneck speed.
The scam begins with a text, starting Hi mum or Hi dad, before the sender tells of losing their phone and being locked out of their bank account.
Data from Santander UK shows that among customers of the bank, fraudsters who pretended to be someone's son were the most successful, followed by daughters, then mothers.
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