A WhatsApp warning has been issued after a grandad wastricked into sending £24,000 to his “son”. It came after scammers posed as him.
The vile fraudsters stole his credit card as part of the scam. Nigel Gammon, 77, fell victim after receiving messages from the scammers over WhatsaApp.
Nigel sent £24,000 to them. His son had recently moved overseas and a scammer posed as him and asked Nigel for money, reports 9News.
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It read: “Hii dad. My other phone crashed, but this is my temporary number… I have a payment that must be paid today. Can you send me a picture from the front and back of your credit card…”
Nigel told the channel: “Anyone that gets a message from their son would feel the same way if you can help you do it. I’m very upset about the whole incident, I think my son particularly feels guilty.
“It was one o’clock in the morning over there and I just didn’t want to ring him up, which I should have.” He added: “The worst part was when they closed it off they put a heart as a closure.”
Only £8,000 has been recovered so far.
Police said this type of scam is particularly common and described it as “fairly simple”.
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