- Some household names have been affected by the large-scale leak of numbers
- Suspected fraudsters have attempted to find their way into squad group chats
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The Premier League and police are investigating a large-scale ‘leak’ of players’ mobile numbers – with some of the game’s biggest stars targeted by suspected fraudsters.
Mail Sport can reveal a staggering ‘league-wide’ problem that has sent clubs across the top-flight and EFL into a panic, with some of the private numbers of a host of household names falling into the hands of tricksters.
Player liaison departments across the competitions are working together and sharing details of the tactics being used – and the apparent attempts being made to dupe their footballers.
It is understood that the specialist police officers have also been called in to try and identify those involved.
Players have been warned about the situation and to ignore messages that come from unidentified numbers.
Mail Sport has been told of a series of troubling instances in which well-known stars have been targeted. In one instance, an unnamed player was contacted by someone masquerading as the club’s liaison officer to offer assistance finding accommodation, while in another, a trickster posed as a team-mate of a new signing and asked for an ‘initiation video’.
Premier League stars’ phone numbers have been leaked en-masse and they are being targeted by suspected fraudsters
Tricksters have tried to sneak their way into players’ WhatsApp groups by pretending to be a star who has got a ‘new phone number’
Players are being asked to share their personal data. It is not known how the numbers have been obtained
Another tactic being used is an attempt to gain access to the WhatsApp groups used by players at a number of clubs. In each instance, the trickster has pretended to be a member of the squad, has messaged another player claiming to have lost their phone and have then asked to be re-added to the squad group chat on their ‘new’ number.
In many instances, there have been attempts to initiate conversation with players before then asking for personal data.
A list of the numbers which have been used to contact players is being drawn up, along with the techniques which have been used by fraudsters so far.
At this stage it is not known how the numbers have been obtained. The earliest instances are thought to have happened at the start of the current season.
Premier League insiders say they have shared relevant information with clubs to highlight the issue and have offered support where appropriate.
The EFL will be writing to clubs to make them aware of the situation and urging them to warn their players to be cautious should they receive unsolicited approaches.
