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The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) reports a significant increase in complaints about automated nuisance calls, known as "robo calls," which tripled from 1,374 in July to 3,684 in September. These calls often attempt to trick people into sharing personal information or joining fraudulent schemes, and the ICO warns that the actual number of incidents is likely much higher than reported. Andy Curry, head of investigations at the ICO, stresses the need for individuals to report these calls using the ICO’s online tool to help curb this growing issue.
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
The UK's data watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), is investigating a significant increase in robo calls asking recipients to add unknown numbers on WhatsApp. In September 2023, over 3,600 complaints were reported to the ICO, marking a five-year high and nearly tripling from July's figure of just under 1,400 complaints. The actual number of people receiving these calls is suspected to be in the millions.
The scam typically involves a recorded voice offering part-time work opportunities before requesting the caller’s phone number for WhatsApp addition. Once added, users may receive messages about fake job listings that could lead to money muling or other fraudulent activities. Experts advise ignoring unknown numbers and reporting suspicious calls to the ICO to prevent further exploitation.
Written for “Robo Call Scams Investigation” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 2 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 68045 · logged 2026-10-09
Complaints about “robo calls” that use an automated voice to potentially trick people into joining WhatsApp groups or sharing personal information have spiked in recent months, the UK’s data watchdog has warned.
asserted
watchdog → use → months
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it was investigating the rise of automated nuisance calls and was urging the public to report them.
asserted
it → say → them
The number of complaints has almost tripled in three months to reach the highest level in five years, it said.
asserted
it → triple → years
There were 1,374 complaints in July, which rose to 2,178 in August, before climbing to 3,684 in September, it reported.
asserted
it → be → September
The ICO said this could be the “tip of the iceberg” with there likely to be many more incidents that are not being reported.
uncertain
that → say → iceberg
Automated and AI-enabled marketing calls, also known as robo calls, can use an automated voice to trick people into joining WhatsApp groups, sharing personal information or engaging with fraudulent schemes.
asserted
calls → enable → schemes
Some appear to impersonate recruiters offering flexible or part-time work opportunities that can lead to recruitment scams.
asserted
that → appear → scams
Andy Curry, head of investigations at the ICO, said: “The sharp rise in complaints about automated calls is deeply concerning.
“
asserted
rise → say → calls
These calls are not just a nuisance; they can cause real distress and are often designed to manipulate people into handing over personal information or money.
asserted
they → cause → information
“The numbers we’re seeing are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg.
asserted
we → see → iceberg
We know many people simply hang up and move on without reporting what happened.”
asserted
what → know → ?
Mr Curry told the BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours programme that he suspected there might be “millions of people” who were receiving automated calls, adding that he had received one and so had a colleague who was leading the investigation.
uncertain
who → tell → investigation
He said he believed the calls were coming from abroad and the ICO was trying to find any UK link so that the regulator could take enforcement action.
uncertain
regulator → say → action
Mr Curry said his message to the public was to report any suspicious automated calls that they receive by using the ICO’s online reporting tool.
asserted
they → say → tool
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