List brings five WhatsApp scams and how to protect yourself; check out
WhatsApp scams are adapted regularly to make new victims. In 2020, criminals took advantage of the pandemic caused by the coronavirus to apply scams involving Emergency Aid – a government benefit created with the aim of reducing the impacts caused by the crisis in the country. In addition, the period also increased the sharing of scams with phishing and fake news about Covid-19, scams that can continue to be exploited this year.
1. WhatsApp cloned
The WhatsApp cloned is a type of scam in which the perpetrator usually goes through a company known users like OLX or Zap Real Estate, or an event organizer that offers an attractive proposition for the victim. The scammer contacts the user through a call or message on WhatsApp, stating about an alleged error, complaint on the ad platforms or offering free tickets to shows. Then he asks the victim to send the WhatsApp verification code, which is sent by SMS to validate the requests.
Having possession of the messenger code, the criminal manages to clone the victim’s WhatsApp and gains access to his list of contacts and groups in the app. Usually, this type of scam is used by the criminal in order to ask the victim’s friends and family for money.
To not have WhatsApp cloned it is necessary to pay attention. The SMS sent by messenger itself states that the verification code must not be shared with third parties. Therefore, be suspicious of messages sent in your company name and do not enter WhatsApp codes in exchange for tickets to celebrities’ events or shows.
2. Fake accounts
Another type of scam that became popular was the use of fake accounts to deceive contacts. In this modality, the criminal creates a new WhatsApp account and steals a person’s public data, such as name, profile photo and status. Then he contacts the victim’s friends saying he “changed numbers” and tells a story to borrow money.
There are some steps that can help users to protect themselves from this scam. One is to hide WhatsApp profile photos, leaving it visible only to contacts. This way, you prevent your identity from being stolen. It is also important to be suspicious of messages of this type, since WhatsApp has a feature capable of automatically informing when a contact changes numbers. Another tip that can help is to get in touch by phone or message with the original number of contact before making any transfer.
3. Spy app
WhatsApp can also be cloned through spy apps. So-called spyware (or stalker were ) allows a third party, who may be an unknown hacker or a jealous partner, to monitor the victim’s activities on the cell phone. With this type of app, the criminal is able to monitor the victim from a distance and can access a series of personal data, including the WhatsApp verification code, used to clone accounts in the messenger.
it is possible to monitor all the victim’s digital steps, including messages exchanged in private conversations on WhatsApp and other social networks. This type of software needs physical access to the victim’s cell phone to be installed.
In hacker attacks, criminals often send malware through phishing, and unknowingly, it is the victim himself who installs the spy app on his phone. With the software, then, the criminal can have access to bank credentials, email and social network passwords and messages exchanged by the victim’s WhatsApp. In the case of jealous partners, malware is mainly used to monitor their activities. It is worth saying that the use of spy apps to spy on partners is a crime and is provided by law.
To protect yourself from the scam it is important to have an antivirus capable of identifying threats installed on the phone. In addition, the smartphone may also give some indication that a spy app is installed on the device. So, be suspicious if your cell phone battery is running out too quickly and if mobile data spikes in use during the day, without explanation. If your smartphone overheats, if you notice suspicious apps or invasive pop-up alerts, your phone may have been infected with a spy app.
Fake news, in addition to being prohibited by the messenger, can also be used for fraud. WhatsApp is so concerned that the app has taken several steps to stop the spread and sharing of fake news. One of them was to limit the forwarding of highly shared messages to one contact at a time, in addition to assigning a magnifying glass to the balloons that are often shared – a feature that can be used to search the content of the message on Google .
5. Malicious links
Scams with malicious links on WhatsApp were in evidence in 2020, especially during the period of isolation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. Criminals used Emergency Aid and the distribution of gel alcohol as bait to lure victims, using phishing scams to steal personal data and adware to profit from showing ads.
