{
  "id": 14869766,
  "title": "‘New number’ WhatsApp scam targets South African parents",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/new-number-whatsapp-scam-targets-south-african-parents",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T04:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sunday-tribune/news/2026-10-16-new-number-whatsapp-scam-targets-south-african-parents/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "A simple WhatsApp message claiming to be from a child can quickly turn into a costly scam. Here is how South African families can verify requests before sending money.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "WhatsApp warning to SA parents after 9-year-olds exposed to porn in friend group call",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/whatsapp-warning-to-sa-parents-after-9-year-olds-exposed-to-porn-in",
        "published": "2026-10-16T05:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}