FOR INFORMATION

Apologies if you have received this alert previously. I am sending it out again as we are continuing to receive a high volume of Action Fraud reports in relation to WhatsApp scam messages. Please share this alert with friends and family to also make them aware of this scam.

We have unfortunately received a spike of Action Fraud reports from individuals in Nottinghamshire, reporting that they have been contacted via WhatsApp or text message from a scammer pretending to be a child of theirs.

The conversation usually begins by the scammer sending a message, pretending their phone has been lost or broken and therefore they're contacting the parent on a different mobile number. The scammer usually then has a short conversation with the victim to build trust and win the victim over into believing that it is their child contacting them.

The scammer then asks the victim for money. Usually claiming that they need help with paying some kind of bill, there is also usually an element of time pressure which makes the victim panic into paying up. The scammer usually offers to pay the victim back, but this never happens.

If you receive a message like this, please contact your children using a different means of communication to clarify the request first. Do not call or respond to any message you have received directly until you are 100% certain it is your child or family member contacting you.

If you are targeted for a scam, please report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

Message Sent By
Fiona Price (Police, Staff, Nottinghamshire)