Scam phone call followed by a WhatsApp

...a number I didn't recognise. Ye Gods, I even previewed this one and still missed that!

I too thought you had to set up a WhatsApp contact. It is worrying. I often get missed calls from numbers I don’t know and did phone back a couple of times as I was expecting a call. Both times the number wasn’t recognised. When I have answered a call it’s usually one of those “I hear you’ve had an accident” calls so had assumed it was them.

I had a missed call from someone in Germany today. I don’t know anyone in Germany! Then DH got a message from someone purporting to be from EE asking him to update his payment details as they couldn’t take the payment for his last bill. It is, of course, a scam.

This is why I am very careful who I give my mobile number to. I only give it to delivery drivers in extremis. Otherwise I only give my landline number.

Of course it doesn't stop me getting a few nuisance calls, but if the call isn't from a name on my contacts list, it gets ignored.

Yes exactly Monica, I always ignore them too - I honestly have no idea why I listened to my idiot DH and answered it! One of those stupid senior moments

DH's have a lot to answer for! Mine tends to answer every call, although when we get International calls on the landline now, he will, finally, do what I do, answer and immediately cut off so that they do not get the answerphone message which tells them it is a domestic and active number. All they here is couple of clicks that I hope suggests a dud number.

There have been several threads on Mumsnet in the last few days about exactly the same problem. It appears that they are telemarketers, and it is "phone spoofing", so a bit like getting cold calls on your land line. Best to just ignore them.

But how do they access WhatsApp?

You only need a mobile number to Whatsapp anyone. Check your privacy settings are set to Contacts Only.

Pittcity I changed my privacy settings to contacts only straight away, after blocking this number. But since then I've had another random WhatsApp from an unknown number - and it's not one of the numbers that has tried to ring me, it's a different one. How?

The Contacts Only setting controls who can see your personal data. You can't stop unknown messages except by blocking/reporting.

Yes I've just been asking Mr Google about this, and it seems that you can't stop ANYONE from WhatsApping you . So I'll probably be plagued with the ruddy things now and have to keep blocking and reporting them individually. How annoying. My DH is not flavour of the month. I know, I know, I didn't have to do as he said

Why not close down your what’s app for a few days ? Then when it’s all died down you can always make a new one

I have been considering that BlueBelle. Touch wood, though, I've not had any rogue calls or WhatsApps now for a few hours. So fingers crossed!