'Millions' of Brits are swamped by robo calls where a voice offering part-time work asks to be added on WhatsApp as investigators blame foreign gangs

Published: 07:50 BST, 9 October 2026 | Updated: 07:57 BST, 9 October 2026

The exchange is one millions of Britons will be familiar with: a voice on the other end of the phone offering part-time work, then asking to be added on WhatsApp before abruptly hanging up. 

These so-called 'robo calls' are on a sharp rise - and investigators believe they're coming from overseas. 

The scam, which sees a recorded voice ask phone users to add their number on WhatsApp, leads to a suspected recruitment scam. 

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) reported more than 3,600 complaints about automated calls in September - the highest rate in five years and triple the number recorded in July. 

But the ICO said it suspects the figure of people receiving the calls is in the millions, saying it was 'deeply concerned' by the sharp rise. 

It has warned people to ignore calls from numbers they don't recognise, and to block and report any suspicious calls to the watchdog. 

Thousands of people reported the calls to the ICO, but authorities believe the number of Brits who have received the scam dial is in the millions 

A WhatsApp message offering 'flexible part-time' work is sent after phone users add the caller's number on WhatsApp

The UK's data watchdog found that, when added on WhatsApp, one number sent a text message reading: 'Hi! We're offering a flexible part-time opportunity that you can do in your spare time.' 

It continued: 'The process is simple and the earnings are quite good. If you're interested, I'd be happy to share more details.' 

Andy Curry, the head of the ICO's criminal investigations, said he believed the calls were coming from abroad. 

He told the BBC: '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. 

'We think there are probably millions of people who are receiving these messages, which appear to us to be largely indiscriminate.' 

He added: '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 companies are working to tackle the surge of robo calls. 

Simon Fell, from the Communications Crime Strategy Group - a telecoms industry body set up to tackle fraud - said companies were sending intelligence reports to the regulator Ofcom, working with police, and liaising with Meta - the company which owns WhatsApp.