The Aporia · Complaints about ‘robo calls’ using automated voice triple in three months

Complaints about ‘robo calls’ using automated voice triple in three months

Read the original at Evening Standard ↗

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Wise, A. (2026, October 9). Complaints about ‘robo calls’ using automated voice triple in three months. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/tech/bbc-radio-b1300148.html

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Quick Summary

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) reports a significant increase in complaints about automated nuisance calls, known as "robo calls," which tripled from 1,374 in July to 3,684 in September. These calls often attempt to trick people into sharing personal information or joining fraudulent schemes, and the ICO warns that the actual number of incidents is likely much higher than reported. Andy Curry, head of investigations at the ICO, stresses the need for individuals to report these calls using the ICO’s online tool to help curb this growing issue.

Written by AI on 2026-10-09, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The UK's data watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), is investigating a significant increase in robo calls asking recipients to add unknown numbers on WhatsApp. In September 2023, over 3,600 complaints were reported to the ICO, marking a five-year high and nearly tripling from July's figure of just under 1,400 complaints. The actual number of people receiving these calls is suspected to be in the millions.

The scam typically involves a recorded voice offering part-time work opportunities before requesting the caller’s phone number for WhatsApp addition. Once added, users may receive messages about fake job listings that could lead to money muling or other fraudulent activities. Experts advise ignoring unknown numbers and reporting suspicious calls to the ICO to prevent further exploitation.

Written for “Robo Call Scams Investigation” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 21% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

'Add me to WhatsApp' scam calls to be investigated Same event

BBC News

Hedges 3 of 24 claims Outlet record 69/100

'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 Different event

Daily Mail

Hedges 0 of 18 claims Outlet record 68/100

“The articles discuss related trends but do not describe a single specific incident occurring at the same time and place.”

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

21%

3 of 14 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

65/100

Evening Standard's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Technology

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Anna Wise

68 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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Also by Anna Wise

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2026-10-30 · Evening Standard

Bank taxes to rise by less than some feared to help fund ‘breathing space’

2026-10-28 · Evening Standard

S4 Capital shares tumble after sales hit by sluggish marketing spend

2026-10-28 · Evening Standard

Santander UK bolstered by TSB takeover as it targets cost ‘synergies’

2026-10-28 · Evening Standard

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 68 articles by Anna Wise →

Narrative

Claims (14 extracted, 3 hedged)

Complaints about “robo calls” that use an automated voice to potentially trick people into joining WhatsApp groups or sharing personal information have spiked in recent months, the UK’s data watchdog has warned. asserted

watchdog → use → months

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it was investigating the rise of automated nuisance calls and was urging the public to report them. asserted

it → say → them

The number of complaints has almost tripled in three months to reach the highest level in five years, it said. asserted

it → triple → years

There were 1,374 complaints in July, which rose to 2,178 in August, before climbing to 3,684 in September, it reported. asserted

it → be → September

The ICO said this could be the “tip of the iceberg” with there likely to be many more incidents that are not being reported. uncertain

that → say → iceberg

Automated and AI-enabled marketing calls, also known as robo calls, can use an automated voice to trick people into joining WhatsApp groups, sharing personal information or engaging with fraudulent schemes. asserted

calls → enable → schemes

Some appear to impersonate recruiters offering flexible or part-time work opportunities that can lead to recruitment scams. asserted

that → appear → scams

Andy Curry, head of investigations at the ICO, said: “The sharp rise in complaints about automated calls is deeply concerning. “ asserted

rise → say → calls

These calls are not just a nuisance; they can cause real distress and are often designed to manipulate people into handing over personal information or money. asserted

they → cause → information

“The numbers we’re seeing are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg. asserted

we → see → iceberg

We know many people simply hang up and move on without reporting what happened.” asserted

what → know → ?

Mr Curry told the BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours programme that he suspected there might be “millions of people” who were receiving automated calls, adding that he had received one and so had a colleague who was leading the investigation. uncertain

who → tell → investigation

He said he believed the calls were coming from abroad and the ICO was trying to find any UK link so that the regulator could take enforcement action. uncertain

regulator → say → action

Mr Curry said his message to the public was to report any suspicious automated calls that they receive by using the ICO’s online reporting tool. asserted

they → say → tool

Complaints about ‘robo calls’ using automated voice triple in three months

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Claims (14 extracted, 3 hedged)