If you a big fan of the instant messaging service, WhatsApp, then these are certain scams you must watch out for.
Created in 2009 as an alternative to text messaging, WhatsApp is
today one of the world’s most popular instant messaging services with
more than one billion users in 180 countries. According to a May 2016
report from a research firm, SimilarWeb, WhatsApp is the top chat app in
109 countries, which represents 58 per cent of the 187 countries
covered in the survey. Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014 to make a
bigger play in the rapidly growing messaging market, along with its own
Messenger platform. At the time the deal was announced, WhatsApp had 450
million users worldwide.
Considering the popularity and widespread usage of WhatsApp, even
among the older generations in countries such as Nigeria, it is no
surprise that the attention of hackers and other unscrupulous
individuals have shifted to the medium in a bid to exploit loopholes
that could be used to swindle unsuspecting users of their money or other
sensitive information.
Here are six WhatsApp scams you should look out for:
1. WhatsApp Gold
The offer of an upgrade to WhatsApp Gold is a fraud that starts
with a message via social networks in which WhatsApp users are invited
to click on a link to update their app to the inexistent Oro version
(Gold version), which offers the users a suite of new and exclusive
features. According to the research and development unit of Yudala, the
link takes the user to a web page where, if he wants to use these
improvements, he has to give his phone number. Interestingly, users who
go on to give their number will be subscribed to a premium SMS service:
each text message that you receive will cost you just a meagre sum.
Global attention was initially drawn to the existence of this scam
by the Spanish National Police and Civil Guard when it reported the
existence of an expensive scam costing users £36 per month. Since then,
the scam has also been reported in a number of countries.
It is important to point out that there is only one version of
WhatsApp; so caution is the watch-word should you get a similar
invitation to upgrade to WhatsApp Gold.
2. WhatsApp Plus
According to the research and development unit of Yudala, this is
another scam perpetrated by faceless individuals seeking to cash in on
the ubiquitous usage of WhatsApp. WhatsApp Plus claims to let users send
pictures, videos and music files of an unlimited size. This is in
addition to allowing subscribers use WhatsApp with more than one number,
a feature that is highly sought after by many users of the app.
However, WhatsApp Plus is not associated with WhatsApp and the
Facebook-owned service bans users who have also downloaded the fake app
onto their device. A bold disclaimer was recently issued by WhatsApp to
alert users to the existence of the fake app.
“WhatsApp Plus is an application that was not developed by
WhatsApp, nor is it authorised by WhatsApp. WhatsApp Plus contains
source code which WhatsApp cannot guarantee as safe and that your
private information is potentially being passed to third parties without
your knowledge or authorisation,” the statement said.
And to demonstrate its stance, WhatsApp blocks users that have
downloaded the unsolicited version of the app, with users having to wait
an additional 24 hours to get the ban lifted after deleting the fake
app.
3. WhatsApp browser fraud
With the launch of WhatsApp’s browser platform, hackers created a
number of similar-looking fraudulent websites to gain access to the
sensitive data and bank details of unsuspecting users. Some of the
tactics employed by these fraudulent websites include requesting users
to download a seemingly harmless application onto their computers,
which, in actuality, is a malicious software that allows the
cybercriminals access to confidential information such as banking
information. Another very popular strategy is to request the phone
number of the unknowing users and then subscribe them to downloading
premium services that charge special rates.
To avoid falling a victim, it is pertinent to bear in mind that
there is only one browser version of WhatsApp, which is absolutely free.
Most importantly, you do not have to download anything to your computer
to use it.
4. WhatsApp video calling invite
In late 2016, WhatsApp rolled out video-calling feature for
Android, iOS and Windows users. The feature, which was long anticipated,
was made available for downloads via update available to all users.
However, the rollout of this popular feature has created new
opportunities for scammers who circulate malicious links inviting people
to download video-calling. Shortly after the video-calling feature was
introduced on November 15, 2016, WhatsApp users began receiving an
invitation link for it. Once the user clicks on the given link, he is
directed to a webpage to enable the new feature. The spam message reads,
“You’re invited to try WhatsApp Video Calling feature. Only people with
the invitation can enable this feature.” And once a user clicks on the
link, it redirects to a website that has been designed to look
believable.
Once a gullible user clicks on the ‘enable’ tab, he/she is
immediately directed to a new page that requires user verification. You
would then be asked to share and invite four other friends to enable
this feature through the same link. Though the entire page and the
process look credible, mere clicking on this link can expose you to
spammers, making you extremely vulnerable to hacking.
Please note that the correct way to enable video calling feature is
to update your WhatsApp app through your Google Playstore or Apple
Store. As soon as it is updated, the feature will be automatically
enabled.
5. Fake WhatsApp voicemail
This is another scam that arose with the introduction of voice
calls on WhatsApp. However, this scam, often perpetrated via email, does
not seek to take advantage of the voice-calling feature but aims to
trap unsuspecting users with the introduction of a related service. The
fake WhatsApp Voicemail fraud starts when a user receives an email,
notifying him of an unread voice message in the non-existent WhatsApp
voicemail. When the user clicks on the large “Autoplay” button that
supposedly allows you hear the message, there is no message. Instead, a
malicious software introduced by a hacker is downloaded on the device.
This is usually the gateway for the scammers to compromise or gain
access to the user’s bank details, credit card information and other
personal data. This approach was recently used by a Canadian pharmacy
spam website in trying to sell its fake pharmaceutical products. The
perpetrators were of the view that disguising their spam message as
something completely unrelated to pharmaceutical products would help it
bypass spam filters as well as trick recipients into clicking the link
and visiting the site.
The best way to remain protected from this particular scam is to remember that there is presently no WhatsApp voicemail.
6. WhatsApp Spy
Despite the existence of WhatsSpy Public, an application invented
by Dutch developer, Maikel Zweerink, that allows you to spy on your
WhatsApp contacts by tracking the user’s online status, last time of
connection and any changes made to profile photos, there is another scam
app that claims to go one step ahead by offering a service that allows
anyone to read the conversations of others. Known as WhatsSpy, this is a
fraud in which ignorant users are tricked into downloading an app,
through which malicious software are introduced into the user’s device.
Understandably, a number of individuals will go to great lengths to be
able to read the conversations of others, especially as a means of
keeping tabs on cheating spouses or for other similar purposes. This has
contributed in no small measure to many falling victim to the WhatsSpy
scam.
To reiterate the fact, WhatsApp messages are encrypted and as such,
you cannot remotely read other people’s conversations. WhatsApp’s
end-to-end encryption ensures only you and the person you’re
communicating with can read what is sent and nobody in between, not even
WhatsApp. Your messages are secured with a lock and only the recipient
and you have the special key needed to unlock and read your message. For
added protection, every message you send has a unique lock and key. All
of this happens automatically: no need to turn on settings or set up
special secret chats to secure your messages.
The existence of end-to-end encryption has remained one of the
major factors that have contributed to the growing popularity of the
Facebook-owned service.
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Via The Punch
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
