Police urging caution after multiple WhatsApp scams in Dorset
Three scams have been reported in recent days
Last updated 5th Oct 2021
Dorset Police are urging people to remain vigilant after a number of scams involving messaging service WhatsApp were reported.
Three incidents have been reported to the police in recent days, where victims have been contacted by unknown numbers pretending to be family members.
WhatsApp is one of the world’s most popular apps, used by an estimated two billion people globally, including tens of millions in the UK.
The police’s intervention comes after one woman in her 70s in Bournemouth received a message from someone pretending to be a family member needing urgent help.
The message said their phone was broken, and urgently needed money to be transferred to another bank account.
The victim transferred money to the offender’s account. Her bank later recovered the money.
Police: 'If you are in any doubt, do not engage'
Two similar scams were reported around the same time, one of which targeted a man in his 50s, also from Bournemouth, who was asked to send money via a link to an invoice sent via WhatsApp.
Dorset Police’s Investigations Officer Martin Forder encouraged anyone who has been a victim of a similar incident to report it.
‘If you receive this type of message, please check the authenticity of it. If you are in any doubt, do not engage with these messages or send any money.’
He added: ‘We would ask people to look out for elderly family members or neighbours and make sure they are aware of this potential scam.’
Anyone who believes they have been targeted by scammers is asked to report it to Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101. It can also be reported to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.