Over the last few weeks, I’ve received several calls which all have the same modus operandi. A disembodied robotic voice tries to get me to connect on WhatsApp.
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/add-me-on-whatsapp.mp4
Some of the voices are reasonable facsimiles of human voices (like the above) and some are just garbage.
The voice clip plays and the call immediately terminates.
What I can’t understand is how this can possibly be effective from the scammers’ point of view. On receiving the call the victim must…
Decided to answer from an unknown number.Listen to the message and decide it is legitimate.Go the their phone’s dialler app.Copy the caller’s phone number.Open WhatsApp. Install WhatsApp if they don’t have it alreadyCreate a new contact - giving a name - and pasting the number.Engage with the contact.
That’s a lot of effort based on… what? A vague offer? There’s a little bit of a curiosity gap but not much. It’s hardly “add me on WhatsApp or we’ll release the photos we have of you” or “you’ve won the lottery, add me on WhatsApp to get the funds”, or “This is the CEO of your company, urgently add me…”.
I guess that if a spammer is able to send out thousands of these messages then they might be able to attract a couple of people to engage with them. There’s no easy way to report a spam account to WhatsApp unless you’ve engaged with it.
I also assume that WhatsApp will see that you were the person who initiated WhatsApp contact - which makes them less likely to think the scammer is the problem.
I am just fascinated to see if this scam can possibly be effective. Generating fake voices is free, as is placing short calls. WhatsApp accounts are also free and easy to automate. But are there really that many people willing to go to the effort of adding a new contact based on so little information?
Obviously, all spam is a numbers game. If the message reaches someone receptive to a robocall, they’re less likely to query the scam. And, yes, I know that you’re a very clever boy and don’t answer unknown numbers - but in the real world people get calls from hospitals, recruiters, and friends with new numbers.
If you’re a spammer and have found this approach effective - please leave a comment!
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