Whatsapp scams are becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect, but if you know what to look out for, you can protect yourself. Learn about the most common scams on WhatsApp and how to avoid them. cryptocurrency scams
Scammers target victims through social media, dating apps and a variety of other methods, slowly building trust before introducing them to an investment opportunity related to crypto assets. This is referred to as "pig butchering" and has wreaked havoc on hundreds of millions of people worldwide since it first came to prominence in 2021.
Pig Butchering Scams
'Pig butchering’ scams are an online scam where a con artist creates a fake profile on dating websites and social media to contact potential victims. They use WhatsApp, Tinder or other dating apps to reach out and initiate a conversation with the victim using a fake phone number and pretending that they're interested in a relationship.
Scammers often ask their victims to invest a small amount of money at first, then ask for more and more money before finally requesting a withdrawal. They can even claim that you have to pay bogus fees or taxes before you can withdraw your funds.
If you see any of these signs, it's best to break off all contact with the person and block their phone number immediately. This way, if they ever call you again, it's more difficult to track them down.
In this type of scam, a con artist uses social engineering to build up your trust over weeks or months before pressuring you to deposit more and more money into a bogus digital wallet or platform. It's a long-term process that can take a while to detect, but once you realize you've been caught up in one, the best thing you can do is withdraw all your money and never invest again.
These scams can also involve contacting you via SMS and emails, claiming to be an old friend or lover that you haven't spoken to in a while. You can check this out by using telecom data - just look up the number's user history and see if it's been used previously.
Pig butchering scams are growing in popularity. According to Scambusters, they’ve already stolen hundreds of millions of dollars and are becoming increasingly difficult to stop.
The scams, which originated in Southeast Asia, are affecting people from all over the world. They are particularly common among Chinese-speaking victims, and are causing a lot of concern for law enforcement agencies and security firms.
Pig butchering is a confidence scam that relies on long-term emotional manipulation of victims, and it is based on phony online personae. These handlers gain victims’ trust by enticing them with promises of friendship and romance before manipulating them into investing in cryptocurrency. This can happen through a fraudulent website or app, and is often linked to gold trading.
Dating Scams
Scammers often start off by creating a fake profile on Tinder, Bumble, OkCupid or other dating apps and then soft-soap their victims. They build a rapport and eventually move the relationship onto something like WhatsApp, where they can keep in touch with their victim.
As they grow closer, scammers use this platform to ask for money. They may say they need help with medical expenses, have a visa to visit you, or want to purchase your flight or other tickets for you. They may also say they’re working on an oil rig or in the military and need you to pay them for travel fees.
Some of these scams can be pretty difficult to identify, but it’s important to be on guard for them. If anything about your online relationship seems a little off, stop communication immediately and report the incident to your bank or another financial institution.
If someone requests payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, it’s always best to avoid doing so. The reason is that these transactions are almost impossible to reverse. If you have questions about any transaction you’ve been involved with, contact your financial institution or the police immediately to report the crime.
One of the most common types of romance scams is when someone says they love you but then tries to move things quickly. They may profess an emotional connection with you within a short period of time and then begin to play up their tragic past or explain that they’re on a ship overseas, or are in the military.
These scams often involve money laundering, which means that the perpetrator will use your personal information to get money from other people. They may then try to extort you in return for your assistance.
The best way to spot this type of scam is by doing a reverse image search on the person’s profile photo. If their photo shows up on a stock photo website or appears to be stolen, it’s likely they’re involved in a scam.
This type of scam is on the rise, and it’s important to be aware of it. If you encounter a person who has been contacting you through WhatsApp, be sure to investigate and report them as soon as possible.
Call Forwarding Scams
Almost two billion people use WhatsApp, which means scammers can reach a wide range of potential targets. It also makes it easy for fraudsters to find new and sophisticated social engineering techniques.
One of the latest tricks hackers are using is called call forwarding scams. This attack enables them to hijack your WhatsApp account and gain access to your contacts and messages.
According to a recent report in the Times of India, cybersecurity experts have warned WhatsApp users about this new ploy. The new trick involves call forwarding and a one-time password (OTP) verification process to hack accounts.
The method works like this: a crook calls a victim and prompts them to dial a number that triggers call forwarding on their cell phone service provider. The hacker then starts a WhatsApp registration process on their device.
Once a victim is logged into their WhatsApp account, the hacker starts sending messages to their friends and family pretending to be them. The crook can steal their login credentials and personal information, such as banking details and bank account numbers.
However, this type of phishing attack can be difficult to detect until the victims have been compromised. That is why it’s important to keep your WhatsApp account locked down and only share it with those you trust.
Another way to protect yourself from these phishing attacks is to turn on two-factor authentication on your WhatsApp account. This feature helps to prevent fraudsters from gaining access to your account through SMS messages or emails.
Moreover, you can use mobile security apps to check whether any caller you receive on WhatsApp is genuine. If you’re unsure, don’t answer the call and hang up.
Cybersecurity experts have also warned that a new method of phishing is targeting WhatsApp accounts by calling users directly. The crooks are then using social engineering techniques to get the victims to hand over their WhatsApp accounts.
In order to avoid this, you should make sure you set up two-factor authentication on all of your online accounts. Then, never share your OTP with anyone who asks for it.
Verification Code Scams
Verification code scams on whatsapp are a very common type of scam, and you need to be very careful when you receive them. These messages typically claim that they're from a friend or relative and ask you to send them a verification code. This is a great way for fraudsters to gain access to your account, as they'll know your details and can then use them to scam you.
A lot of WhatsApp users are being tricked into handing over a six-digit code that hackers can use to gain access to their accounts. These are known as 'WhatsApp verification codes' and have been around for a while.
The new version of this scam is being reported by many WhatsApp users in the UK, and it's causing quite a stir amongst those affected. Some WhatsApp users have even lost their accounts due to this scam.
This is a scam that occurs when a criminal uses a 'WhatsApp' profile picture to get you to share a 6-digit verification code with them. Once you've shared the code with them, they will then be able to take control of your WhatsApp account and steal your personal information.
Another variation of this scam involves sending you a link to a site that says they are offering you a prize. If you click on the link, you'll be taken to a site that will then ask you for your name, email address, and other personal details.
If you're not sure whether the link is legitimate or not, then it's a good idea to contact the website and ask them to verify it for you. They should be able to tell you if it's a scam, and they can also let you know how to avoid the scam.
In some cases, these scammers will be posing as members of WhatsApp's technical support team and will ask you to share the verification code they have sent you. If this is the case, you should never respond to these types of emails or WhatsApp messages.
However, if you're suspicious about a message or email, it's always a good idea to check with a friend before you give them your information. This will allow you to double-check the authenticity of the message, and it could help prevent a more serious scam.
