According to analysis from Lloyds Bank, the number of WhatsApp scams has soared by 2,000 per cent in the past year, and the banking giant has issued a warning to users. Fraudsters are increasingly turning to the instant messaging app in a bid to con users out of their hard-earned cash.
The total number of scams reported as starting on WhatsApp had increased twenty-fold between 2020 and 2021. On average, victims of the scams lost around £1,950 each.
Users are being warned that the scam messages can seem "very personal" and will often use the pretence of being a family member who has lost their phone. They don't even need to know your name, as "Mum" or "Dad" may be enough.
