A national fraud and cyber crime center in the UK has warned users about a cash scam that is making the rounds on WhatsApp, with over 636 reports from victims this year alone.
With over 2,000,000,000 monthly users, cybercriminals have turned their attention to the instant messaging platform in a bid to scam people out of money.
Action Fraud says this new scam often begins when a member of a group receives a WhatsApp audio call from a fraudster who pretends to be a known person to the individual.
The scammer can do this by using a fake profile picture or display name, so it appears to be a different person at first glance. Then, they’ll tell the victim to send them a one-time passcode so they can join an upcoming video call.
New scam alert!!
A number calls you on Whatsapp saying they are admins in a group you are in and you should join a meeting at x time but you need to immediately check your phone to accept the invite.
The invite is this pop-up, and they call a few seconds later to get your… pic.twitter.com/xg4b476O4Y
— Andre (@andre_lesa) July 27, 2024
In reality, the code isn’t so a video call can be started but so the criminal can use it to register the victim’s WhatsApp account to a new device so they can take it over. Once in, they can then message loved ones from the victim’s account to ask for an urgent money transfer claiming to be in desperate need of help.
According to data from the center, the reports from victims suggest the top three most impacted group chat types include Islamic religious groups, Christian religious groups, and work chats.
Advice is provided to help people try and avoid WhatsApp cash scam
To prevent the cash scam from occurring, users of the platform are urged to never send over account details or any passwords or verification codes to anyone.
A WhatsApp spokesperson has commented on the Action Fraud news release: “All personal messages sent on WhatsApp are protected by end-to-end encryption, but we can all play a role in keeping our accounts safe.
“We recommend that all users set up two-step verification for added security and advise people never to share their six-digit PIN code with others, not even with friends or family.
“If you receive a suspicious message (even if you think you know who it’s from), calling or requesting a voice-note is the fastest and simplest way to check that someone is who they say they are.”
Featured Image: Via Ideogram
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