6 Top WhatsApp Scams
WhatsApp is the most popular messaging application globally with more than 2 billion users. Though it is not as popular in the US, WhatsApp is the preferred messenger app in populous countries such as India and Brazil.
Common WhatsApp Scams
Wherever the masses go, so do scammers. Therefore, WhatsApp is used for carrying out a variety of different scams. These are some of the top scams on WhatsApp that you should know about:
WhatsApp Gold
This scam is almost as old as WhatsApp itself. This scam occurs in the form of hoax messages claiming that WhatsApp has released an upgraded version of its app called WhatsApp Gold/Blue/Pink, etc. that supposedly has more features.
Along with the message comes a malicious APK file that will insert adware and spyware on the device if installed.
Malicious Attachments
A variant of the above scam involves the malware being propagated in the form of safe-looking files such as PDFs and Excel files. The message will be written in such a way that the recipient will be curious to see the contents of the file.
When they download the file and try to open it, the device will say that the file is corrupted. However, malware will be installed in the background.
Fake Giveaways
The message forwarding feature of WhatsApp is commonly abused by scammers to spread their scams far and wide. They send out fake messages about giveaways for things such as Amazon vouchers, Nike sneakers and other popular items with a link to claim the prize.
Anyone who clicks the link will be directed to a page that is designed either to steal personal and financial information, or to answer endless surveys that will earn the scammer some money. An essential step to claim the prize is to send the message to at least 10-20 people.
Emergency Scam
You may receive a message from an unknown phone number claiming to be your friend or family member who has an emergency. They may even use the profile picture of the person they are pretending to be.
The scammer will say that they need money immediately and will act extremely panicked, giving you no time to think. It may only be after you send them money that you realize it was a scam. WhatsApp now even has a built-in payments feature which makes this scam easier to execute.
Account Hijacking
Hijacking a WhatsApp account is easier than you may imagine. The scammer will install WhatsApp on their phone and input the victim’s phone number. WhatsApp then sends a verification code to the number to ensure that only the person using the number can log in.
However, scammers use social engineering methods to convince the real owner of the number to share the verification code with them. Once they have the code, they can then use the victim’s WhatsApp account as their own. This can then be used to carry out a scarily believable version of the Emergency Scam.
Pig Butchering Scams (Romance & Investment Scams)
Scammers are known to randomly contact people pretending to be someone of the opposite sex and engage them in conversation. They will feign romantic interest and continue chatting with the victim for anywhere between a few days to even a few months. These are known as Pig Butchering Scams and you can read about them in more detail here.
The victim will soon start believing that they are chatting with a genuine person who is interested in them. When the scammer realizes this, they start demanding money for various reasons, such as a bill payment or a family emergency, with the promise of returning it soon. They will try to extract as much money as possible and block the victim if they start getting suspicious.
The scammer may also try to lure the victim to invest in a fake platform that promises extremely high returns. These are usually Advance Fee Scams where the victim will be asked to pay hidden fees to withdraw their non-existent profits.
How to Avoid WhatsApp Scams
- Do not send money to anyone unless you are completely sure that the person at the other end is someone you know. You can ask them to do a voice or video call to ascertain their identity. Refusal to do so may indicate that they are not who they claim to be.
- Never install APK files from unknown sources. APK files are essentially setup files for an Android app, similar to EXE files on Windows. It is unsafe to install apps from anywhere except the Google Play Store as they may contain viruses.
- Do not share verification codes over the phone. PINs and OTPs are never meant to be shared with anyone else. By doing so, you put your own account at risk and can also cause your contacts to get scammed due to the scammer misusing your identity.
- Do not blindly forward messages containing links, especially if the message insists that you have to send it to a large number of people. External links can be used to carry out a number of different scams.
- Do not entertain messages from strangers. Exchanging messages with people who contacted you out of the blue is rarely a good idea. There is a high chance that you may get catfished.
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Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!
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