Premier League stars tricked by fraudsters in huge mobile phone numbers leak
Premier League stars tricked by fraudsters in huge mobile phone numbers leak
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Police have been forced to investigate following a 'large-scale leak' of Premier League footballers' mobile numbers. Some of English football's biggest stars have been targeted by suspected fraudsters, with players in the EFL also affected. Clubs in the top flight and lower divisions of the professional game in England have been sent into panic after tricksters got their hands on the private numbers of multiple household names.
Player liaison departments up and down the country are working together and sharing details of the shady tactics being used. Specialist police officers have even been appointed to attempt to try and identify those making unsolicited contact. Players are being warned about the ongoing situation and have been told ignore messages that come from unidentified numbers. The Mail report that a number of big-name footballers have been targeted by fraudsters.
On one occasion, an unnamed star was contacted by someone pretending to be the club's player liaison officer. They were supposedly offering them help in finding accommodation. Another instance saw a fraudster pose as the team-mate of a new signing, asking them to do an 'initiation video'.
Tricksters are also attempting to maliciously gain access to squad group chats on WhatsApp. Each time, they have pretended to be a member of the squad and messaged another player, claiming to have lost their phone. They have then requested to be re-added to the squad group chat on their 'new' mobile number.
Fraudsters have also tried to start a conversation with players before asking them for sensitive personal data. A list containing all of the numbers which have been leaked is currently being drawn up behind closed doors, with the players involved asked to report which techniques the tricksters have used.
