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Millions of British people are receiving automated calls offering part-time work that abruptly end when the caller asks to be added on WhatsApp. The Information Commissioner's Office reported over 3,600 complaints in September, a five-year high and three times July’s count, though they estimate millions receive these calls. Authorities suspect the scam originates from foreign gangs and warn recipients to ignore unknown numbers and report suspicious calls.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In September 2023, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) reported over 3,600 complaints about automated calls in the UK, a five-year high and nearly three times the July figure. The scam involves robocalls asking recipients to add an unknown number on WhatsApp, likely leading to recruitment scams such as money muling or fake job listings. While the exact nature of these scams remains uncertain without direct follow-up, experts like Simon Fell from the Communications Crime Strategy Group predict they might involve part-time work offers. The ICO advises Britons to ignore calls from unrecognized numbers and report suspicious activity, estimating that millions of people have received these scam calls.
Written for “WhatsApp Scam Calls Investigation” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 67726 · logged 2026-10-09
The exchange is one millions of Britons will be familiar with: a voice on the other end of the phone offering part-time work, then asking to be added on WhatsApp before abruptly hanging up.
asserted
millions → offer → WhatsApp
These so-called 'robo calls' are on a sharp rise - and investigators believe they're coming from overseas.
asserted
they → call → rise
The scam, which sees a recorded voice ask phone users to add their number on WhatsApp, leads to a suspected recruitment scam.
asserted
voice → see → scam
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) reported more than 3,600 complaints about automated calls in September - the highest rate in five years and triple the number recorded in July.
asserted
Office → report → July
But the ICO said it suspects the figure of people receiving the calls is in the millions, saying it was 'deeply concerned' by the sharp rise.
asserted
it → say → rise
It has warned people to ignore calls from numbers they don't recognise, and to block and report any suspicious calls to the watchdog.
asserted
they → warn → watchdog
Thousands of people reported the calls to the ICO, but authorities believe the number of Brits who have received the scam dial is in the millions
A WhatsApp message offering 'flexible part-time' work is sent after phone users add the caller's number on WhatsApp
asserted
users → report → WhatsApp
The UK's data watchdog found that, when added on WhatsApp, one number sent a text message reading: 'Hi!
asserted
number → find → message
We're offering a flexible part-time opportunity that you can do in your spare time
asserted
you → offer → time
It continued: 'The process is simple and the earnings are quite good.
asserted
earnings → continue → ?
If you're interested, I'd be happy to share more details.'
asserted
I → share → details
Andy Curry, the head of the ICO's criminal investigations, said he believed the calls were coming from abroad.
asserted
calls → say → investigations
He told the BBC: 'We are trying to find who is behind this, why they're doing it and the impact it's having on members of the public.
asserted
it → tell → public
We think there are probably millions of people who are receiving these messages, which appear to us to be largely indiscriminate.'
asserted
which → think → us
He added: 'I've had them, my colleague who's leading the investigation has had them.
asserted
who → add → them
Mobile companies are working to tackle the surge of robo calls.
asserted
companies → work → calls
Simon Fell, from the Communications Crime Strategy Group - a telecoms industry body set up to tackle fraud - said companies were sending intelligence reports to the regulator Ofcom, working with police, and liaising with Meta - the company which owns WhatsApp.
asserted
which → set → WhatsApp
The Daily Mail approached WhatsApp for comment.
asserted
Mail → approach → comment
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