People are being warned about a WhatsApp scam which has already cost victims more than £1.5m this year. The cruel con sees fraudsters pose as family members - usually a child - or a friend of their target.
Criminals will usually begin the conversation with "Hello Mum" or "Hello Dad" and will say that they are texting from a new mobile number as their phone was lost or damaged. They will then ask for money to purchase a new one, or claim that they need money urgently to pay a bill.
The criminal will provide bank details for the payment to be made to, with some coming back with further demands for money. The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) has issued a warning to the public about the continued increase in reports about the scam.
