A warning has been issued to WhatsApp users after the UK reported a 2,000 per cent increase in scam cases, according to experts.
Since the beginning of the pandemic two years ago, the number of scam calls, texts and emails has seen a sharp increase as fraudsters took advantage of people using more technology from home.
The latest scam has seen hackers use the messaging service to steal money from users, with some reporting to have lost almost €2,400.
Read more: Gardai issue warning over new bank card scam involving 'taxis being sent' to customers
Using "very personal" messages, scammers have attempted to impersonate family members who have apparently lost their phones and need money to get a new one as they are strapped for cash.
Using words such as "mum" or "dad", the hacker tries to appear as though they are a child in trouble to start the conversation.
A spokesman for Lloyds Bank in the UK told Wales Online: "The story they tell varies but most often they will claim that because it is a new phone, they don't have access to their internet or mobile banking account, and therefore they need urgent help with paying a bill."
To identify scams, look for the following signs:
- Unsolicited contact from a company out of the blue
- A deal that seems too good to be true
- You are asked to share personal details
- You are being pressurised to respond quickly or transfer money quickly
- You have been asked to pay by unusual method, for example, through a transfer service like Western Union or virtual currency like Bitcoin
- Contact details are vague
- Misspellings or grammatical mistakes
- You are asked to keep the offer quiet
Experts at The MoneyEdit listed a number of scams now circulating on WhatsApp.
They include:
Impersonation Fraud
Impersonation fraud occurs when people pretend to be a friend or relative in a bid to get you to transfer money or provide them with personal details.
Six Digit Code
This scam starts with the victim receiving a six-digit code from WhatsApp that can be used to reset your contact and login details. You then get a message from a friend asking you to forward them the code.
The friend is, in fact, a hacker and can access your details by you sending the code. Once they have access to your account, they can see private and group chats and private information.
WhatsAppGold
This has been circulating for six years and reappears every so often.
It involves the victim getting a message claiming there is a celebrity version of WhatsApp only available to certain people. You get a link to this 'WhatsApp Gold', but when you download it, you will fill your device with software that can steal your private and banking details.
WhatsApp Voucher Scam
The WhatsApp Voucher Scam will see you receive messages claiming to be from big names such as Tesco. The message may appear to come from a friend and will say that if you click a link, you will get €250 to spend at a major retailer.
By pressing the link, you will flood your device with tracking malware or will take you to a page where you give away your private information.
What to do if you think you've been scammed
If you think you have been a victim of a scam, you should take the following steps:
- Stop all contact with the scammer straight away
- Do not send any more payments
- If you paid by credit or debit card, tell your bank or card provider immediately
- Report the incident to your local garda station, it is a criminal matter
- Gather any records you have about the scam (emails or other communications)
- Protect your devices by resetting your passwords and update your anti-virus software
- Report the incident to consumer protection agencies, for advice and to help prevent other people being caught in the same scam
Read more: Ireland scams: People warned as fraudsters use one trick to con users out of thousands
