Lloyds issues scam warning over fake WhatsApp texts

Lloyds Bank has issued a scam warning over fraudulent WhatsApp messages which are causing Britons to lose hundreds of pounds. Worryingly, fraudsters are impersonating friends and family members of people to trick them into parting with their cash. As a result, victims are now losing £1,610 on average to these WhatsApp text scams, according to Lloyds Bank.Scammers send the same initial message to lots of different phone numbers at the same time to try and get enough people to respond.Pretending to be a close friend or family member, they will say they have lost their phone and have got a replacement which gives them an excuse for having a NEW number.Due to having a new phone, the scammer will say they have no access to their internet or mobile banking account.Criminals then pretend they need to ask for help in paying for an urgent bill or expense.READ MORE: 70 health conditions qualify for extra £156 a week in PIP from DWP Lloyds Bank issues scam warning as Brits lose £1,610 to fake WhatsApp texts (Image: GETTY)It should be noted that this method of scam is not limited to WhatsApp and can also happen through other social media channels.Liz Ziegler, the fraud prevention director at Lloyds Bank, outlined the danger posed by criminals who use this type of scam to make money.Ms Ziegler said: ‘Fraudsters will stop at nothing to deceive victims and steal their hard-earned cash.’The emergence of the WhatsApp scam over the last year shows just how quickly these ruthless organised crime gangs will adapt their tactics if they think they can make more money doing something different.DON’T MISSState pension sum may be less if you were ‘contracted out’ – check now [WARNING]What the falling pound will mean for YOUR finances [ALERT]Single mum on Universal Credit shares her top tips for saving money [INSIGHT]450,000 people may be placed on energy prepayment meters [ALERT]’It’s important that people are aware of the warning signs and how to stay safe. Never trust a message from an unknown number – even if someone tells you they’ve lost their phone, call the original number you have stored to check.’Fraud is now the UK’s most common crime and banks can’t fight it alone, so stopping scams needs to be a shared responsibility.’It is vital that Government, law enforcement, big tech and social media companies all play their part to tackle the ruthless networks perpetrating these crimes’.To educate people on the dangers posed by similar texting scams, WhatsApp has launched the ‘STOP. THINK. CALL’ campaign.READ MORE: Paramedic shares how she dishes up tasty meals costing 68p per portion Scams are on the rise (Image: EXPRESS.CO.UK) The bank is issuing a scam warning (Image: GETTY)Ms Harnett explained: ‘WhatsApp protects our users’ personal messages with end-to-end encryption.’But we can all play a role in keeping our accounts safe by remaining vigilant to the threat of scammers.’We advise people never to share their six-digit PIN code with others, not even friends or family, and recommend that all users set up two-step verification for added security.’And if you receive a suspicious message (even if you think you know who it’s from), calling or requesting a voice note is the fastest and simplest way to check someone is who they say they are. A friend in need is a friend worth calling.’