WhatsApp users are being targeted by people stealing the profile picture of a family member or a friend and pretending they need help.
WhatsApp, with its 2 billion users worldwide, has become a favourite target for fraudsters and tactics have become smarter, cybersecurity experts from VPN Overview warn. There are ways to recognise WhatsApp scams and how to prevent them.
As part of the scam, cybercriminals pretend to be a victim’s acquaintance after they have stolen a photo from their other social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram. They would also use other information and vocabulary they have seen after stalking the acquaintance on social media and using certain events the individual may have posted about online ("Should’ve asked you for help when we were in that bar yesterday…").
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Since the perpetrators usually pretend to be in a hurry, most likely to entice their victims to take immediate action, victims might not think too much about the fact that the phone number is unfamiliar. The criminals would then ask the victims for financial help because “they urgently have to pay a (high) bill” or “they have an emergency and urgently need some money”.
On average victims loose thousands of dollars to the so called "friend or family emergency" scams on Whatsapp. Age also seems to be a factor, with most of the victims being over 50 years old.
What are the tell-tale signs of WhatsApp scams?
- Scammer creates a sense of urgency and pressures you to pay quickly.
- Scammer contacts you from an unknown number.
- Scammer informs about a number change and quickly talks about money.
- Poor English is used in their messages.
- Scammer does not want to be called.
- Scammer asks for money to be transferred to an unknown account or uses an app that hides account numbers.
Tips to prevent WhatsApp fraud
- Check if the number is correct if someone asks for money.
- Check the language and communication style of the message.
- Call the number or contact the person in a different way to verify the story.
- Do not let the fraudster pressure you; think logically.
- Ask the scammer a question only your friend or acquaintance would know the answer to if suspicious.
- Secure voicemail with a personal code.
- Never send a verification code without questioning.
- Set up "2-Factor Authentication" on WhatsApp.
The cybersecurity experts warn that the tips provided above are not only important to protect potential victims. If criminals manage to hijack their WhatsApp account, they can easily scam the contacts of their initial victims and possibly take over the accounts of their friends and family as well.
And people who do become victims of WhatsApp fraud must remain calm and report the incident to their bank and the gardai. Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to reverse the payment, but individuals must act quickly. For example, wire transfers are harder to recover, and online payment services or apps can complicate the process.
However, even if a refund is not issued, experts say, the bank will investigate the fraud claim to protect customers and prevent future fraud. Reporting scams to WhatsApp and AnyScam is also recommended, and national help groups for victims of fraud can assist individuals in dealing with the process and preventing future fraud.
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