When WhatsApp is (re)installed, the app sends a text message to the specified phone number with the verification code. WhatsApp fraud and voicemail box hijackingĪnother common trick to gain access to a victim’s WhatsApp account involves breaking into a victim’s voicemail box to steal the WhatsApp verification code. The cybercriminal tricks the victim into giving them the verification code, which they then type it into their own phone thus gaining access to the victim’s WhatsApp account and all the victim’s contacts.The WhatsApp fraudster lies to the victim, saying that they have accidentally sent their verification code to the victim.The criminal contacts the victim, impersonating an acquaintance of the victim.The cybercriminal (re)installs WhatsApp on his phone or another device.The fraudster obtains the telephone number of his first victim.The following scenario may sound unlikely or overly complicated to some, but it happens more often than you think. Because the fraudster is using a friend’s actual account, their demand for quick cash is more credible to the victim.įor an experienced, or even an inexperienced, cybercriminal, breaking into someone’s WhatsApp account is easier than it sounds. WhatsApp hijacking occurs when a cybercriminal breaks into a victim’s WhatsApp account to commit fraud. Advanced WhatsApp scam: WhatsApp hijacking With this type of fraud, actual WhatsApp accounts are being taken over by fraudsters. Today an even more misleading form of WhatsApp fraud is emerging, known as WhatsApp hijacking. Like the vocabulary an individual may use, or certain events the individual may have posted about online (“Should’ve asked you for help when we were in that bar yesterday…”). The same applies to other information that can be used to mislead the victim. However, criminals can easily copy a photo from other social media platforms, such as Facebook or Instagram. Consequently, the victim thinks that he or she is indeed communicating with a friend or family member. In most cases the phone number used by the criminal to commit WhatsApp fraud is unknown to the victim, yet the attached profile picture is familiar. Age also seems to be a factor, with most of the victims being over 50 years old. Sadly, on average victims loose thousands of dollars to WhatsApp scams. That is why this type of fraud is also referred to as a friend or family emergency scam. Usually, the perpetrators pretend to be in a hurry, most likely to entice their victims to take immediate action. Currently, most of those criminals pose as a friend or family member and ask for financial help because “they urgently have to pay a (high) bill” or “they have an emergency and urgently need some money”. WhatsApp fraud is a form of fraud in which cybercriminals pretend to be a victim’s acquaintance and then ask them for money. What is WhatsApp fraud (friend or family emergency scam)? This is exactly what this article is all about. Needless to say, it is therefore important to know what WhatsApp fraud is, how to recognize Whatsapp scams and how to prevent them. In the first half of 2020 the total number of fraud reports increased sharply, with only a very small number of fraud offences resulting in prosecution. Furthermore, users have become more vulnerable over time, since the tactics used by scammers are becoming more and more ingenious and more effective.Īs a result, WhatsApp fraud is on the rise, causing each victim, on average, thousands of dollars in losses. If you add to this the fact that, for various reasons, the majority of WhatsApp users are vulnerable when online, WhatsApp has become an irresistible platform for fraudsters. This is not surprising, considering the enormous number of WhatsApp users, which as of February 2020 stood at over 2 billion users worldwide, and counting. Even a hugely popular online communication platform like WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, has become a favorite tramping ground for fraudsters. Nowadays, online safety is all but a given.
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