Complaints about automated nuisance calls, known as robo calls, have almost tripled in three months to reach the highest level in five years, the UK's data watchdog has warned.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said it was investigating the rise of these calls and urged the public to report them. Figures show there were 1,374 complaints in July, rising to 2,178 in August before climbing to 3,684 in September.
Tip of the iceberg
The ICO said this could be the "tip of the iceberg", with likely many more incidents not being reported. Automated and AI-enabled marketing calls can use an automated voice to trick people into joining WhatsApp groups, sharing personal information or engaging with fraudulent schemes.
Some appear to impersonate recruiters offering flexible or part-time work opportunities that can lead to recruitment scams.
Investigation and public appeal
Andy Curry, head of investigations at the ICO, said: "The sharp rise in complaints about automated calls is deeply concerning.
"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. The numbers we're seeing are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg. We know many people simply hang up and move on without reporting what happened."
Mr Curry told BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme that he suspected there might be "millions of people" receiving automated calls, adding that he had received one and so had a colleague leading the investigation.
He said he believed the calls were coming from abroad and the ICO was trying to find any UK link so the regulator could take enforcement action. Mr Curry urged the public to report any suspicious automated calls using the ICO's online reporting tool.
