Home / Crime and Justice / UK Watchdog Probes Surge in Scam Robo Calls
UK Watchdog Probes Surge in Scam Robo Calls
9 Oct
Summary
- ICO recorded 3,600 complaints about automated calls in September.
- Scammers likely use spoofed UK numbers and mention fake job offers.
- Calls may lead to recruitment scams or phishing for personal data.
The UK's data watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), is urgently investigating a significant surge in complaints concerning automated "robo calls." These calls, often appearing to originate from UK mobile numbers, are suspected of leading to sophisticated recruitment scams.
In September alone, the ICO recorded more than 3,600 complaints about these automated calls, marking a five-year high. This figure represents a nearly threefold increase compared to July. Officials express deep concern, estimating that millions of people across the UK may be receiving these indiscriminate messages.
Experts suggest these scams could involve fake job listings designed for money muling or simple phishing exercises to gather active user information for resale on the dark web. While the calls appear local, authorities believe they originate from abroad, with numbers being spoofed. Mobile companies are collaborating with law enforcement and regulators to tackle the issue, including liaising with WhatsApp due to the nature of the scam's follow-up requests.
The government has pledged to eliminate call spoofing within a year, reaffirming its commitment to robust action against telecommunication scams.
