UK Investigators Link Rise in Robo Calls to Foreign Gangs

Automated phone calls, commonly known as robo calls, are surging in the United Kingdom, with millions of residents reporting a distinctive scam that offers part-time work and requests contact via WhatsApp. Investigators suspect these calls are orchestrated by foreign criminal gangs.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) recorded over 3,600 complaints regarding automated calls in September, marking the highest figure in five years and a threefold increase from July. While this number represents formal complaints, the ICO estimates that the actual number of individuals receiving these calls is in the millions.

"We are deeply concerned by the sharp rise," an ICO spokesperson stated, warning the public to ignore calls from unrecognized numbers and to report suspicious activity. The watchdog is urging individuals to block and report any such calls.

Upon adding the caller's number on WhatsApp, recipients are typically sent a message stating: "Hi! We're offering a flexible part-time opportunity that you can do in your spare time. The process is simple and the earnings are quite good. If you're interested, I'd be happy to share more details."

Andy Curry, head of the ICO's criminal investigations, believes the calls are originating from outside the UK. "We are trying to find who is behind this, why they're doing it and the impact it's having on members of the public," Curry told the BBC. He added, "We think there are probably millions of people who are receiving these messages, which appear to us to be largely indiscriminate. I've had them, my colleague who's leading the investigation has had them. It's likely to be the tip of the iceberg."

Mobile network operators are actively working to combat the increase in these calls. The Communications Crime Strategy Group, a body established by the telecommunications industry to address fraud, is collaborating with the regulator Ofcom, law enforcement agencies, and Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, by sharing intelligence reports. Efforts are underway to identify the perpetrators and disrupt their operations.