Just like other internet tools, WhatsApp is vulnerable to the criminal element and, according to online security experts, getting more at risk each day.
Usually, the perpetrators pretend to be in a hurry, most likely to con their victims into taking immediate action. “Sadly, on average victims lose thousands of dollars to scam,” notes the report.It’s frightening when a call is made under such conditions – and the recipient of the ruse is overwhelmed by the urgency of the request.
How does this happen? According to cyber-security experts from VPN Overview, in most cases the phone number used by the criminal is unknown to the victim, yet the attached profile picture may appear familiar to the victim – making them think they’re communicating with a friend or family member. “However, criminals can easily copy a photo from other social media platforms, such as Facebook or Instagram,” note officials from the media release.
Security experts from VPN say online safety is becoming increasingly critical, even for popular platforms like WhatsApp. The company has compiled its top tips on how to recognize WhatsApp scams and how to prevent them:– Contact you from an unknown number.– Poor English is used in their messages.– Asks for money to be transferred to an unknown account or uses an app that hides account numbers.It’s when a cyber-criminal breaks into a victim’s WhatsApp account to commit fraud.
The following scenario may sound unlikely or overly complicated to some, but it happens more often than you think, writes Gyles, offering how the fraudster can take control so easily:– The cyber-criminal installs WhatsApp on his phone or another device.– The WhatsApp fraudster lies to the victim, saying that they have accidentally sent their verification code to the victim.
– The cyber-criminal 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.Article content
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