Posted: 9:10 am June 10, 2022
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By John Carney
A PHISHING scam is using messaging service WhatsApp to con victims into believing they are speaking with a family member.
The scam usually involves a WhatsApp message, but can also be a text message or even a phone call, from someone claiming to be a relative. The messages aim to get the recipient to transfer money to the scammer.
A local Kinawley woman told how a scammer pretending to be her daughter tried to persuade her to send money.
“The [WhatsApp] message said that my daughter’s online banking had been blocked and if I could send her some money instead. It said she had a new [mobile] number now as it had been blocked too and to delete her old one,” the woman explained.
“The next message told me to send the money online straightaway. I was so worried that I never thought it wasn’t real. It was only when I got my husband to call my daughter [on her mobile] that I realised it was a scam. Luckily, I didn’t give any bank details.
“I was sent around four messages. They used the word ‘mum’ in some of the messages and my daughter would never call me that. But when it said that she was stressed I started to worry that something was wrong.”
Police experts previously warned of the scam in January after receiving increased reports of victims across the North. They said while anyone can fall victim…
