WhatsApp scams: precautions you need to take

With advances in technology, our lives have become increasingly easier. However, WhatsApp scams have also become more common.

The increase in WhatsApp scams

One thing is undeniable: WhatsApp is the main communication platform among Brazilians.

Present on the cell phones of millions of people here in Brazil alone – one of the countries with the greatest use of the application – WhatsApp quickly became popular and, over time, became the main way for Brazilians to communicate, whether through messages, audio, photos, video calls and even the recent stickers.

And when a messaging app gains so many users, it's no surprise that criminals soon looked for ways to use the tool to commit various types of scams.

And unfortunately, the number of types of scams is only growing every day.

The main WhatsApp scams

While we are following our routines normally – whether working or studying – there are thousands of gangs specialized in the most diverse types of scams.

To alert you about these practices, we have listed some of the main scams that can be applied through WhatsApp and other communication networks and platforms. We have listed some of the most common scams so that you can prevent them and also alert people close to you about these types of scams.

Scams involving Emergency Aid

As everyone knows, due to the COVID-19 pandemic that took over the entire world, in 2020 a benefit offered by the Federal Government was released.

And as this benefit – Emergency Aid – was made available to people with fewer financial means – and, to a large extent, more humble people who do not have as much access to information – this benefit became the center of one of the main types of scams applied by WhatsApp in the last 2 years.

In it, criminals share links under the promise of releasing new installments of the Aid and that, to do so, it is necessary to fill out a certain registration form.

The user, unaware of this malice, ends up clicking and, in most cases, their cell phones are hacked and/or cloned.

Spy Apps

Another scam that has been gaining a lot of traction on WhatsApp is the occurrence of so-called spy apps.

As the name suggests, this type of scam is applied when, after contacting someone via a specific WhatsApp message with a link – and the victim clicks on that link – the criminal grants full remote access to the victim's cell phone.

With this, the criminal can access messages exchanged via WhatsApp and images in the gallery, as well as view passwords for social networks and banking applications remotely.

In this case, the scam consists of “kidnapping” the victim’s data or even accessing their bank accounts and stealing their money.

Device cloning

This is perhaps the best known on the list.

In this case, criminals can pretend to be a specific company or even an event organizer, with a tempting proposal for the victim.

By contacting the victim – whether by message or even by phone call – with an offer or condition that catches the victim’s attention.

ENTER WHATSAPP

CONTINUE

In the next step, the criminal asks the victim to send a supposed verification code that is sent via SMS to validate the request.

Using this code, the criminal gains access to the victim's WhatsApp, allowing them to freely move through the app's contact list and groups.

In this way, by impersonating the victim, the scammer can ask for money from that person's family and friends, resulting in a scam with the potential to make several victims at once.

That's why he became so popular.

Furthermore, with the emergence and popularization of Pix, this type of scam has generated even more victims, since sending the amounts of money requested in the scams can be done even more quickly than before, which ends up, in a way, facilitating the application of this scam on more unsuspecting people.

How to avoid WhatsApp scams

With all the exposure that social media brings, it is necessary to take some precautions to avoid these crimes.

Even though the number of criminals and gangs specializing in internet scams is constantly growing, there are some practices that, when adopted in our daily lives, can be great ways to protect ourselves from the actions of people with bad intentions.

Below, we list some of these practices:

Carefully evaluate the messages received

A great way is to watch for grammar mistakes or incorrect information.

Always be wary of very advantageous conditions

It's that saying, right? There's no such thing as a free lunch. So if you receive one of those messages offering unrealistic benefits, be suspicious.

Keep your personal data to yourself!

It is very unlikely that a serious company will ask for personal information, such as card numbers, bank accounts, passwords and security codes.

Therefore, whenever you interact with any company's business account, make sure the account is verified.

No shortened links

These links can easily redirect you to fake websites with forms that aim to steal your data.

Avoid sharing certain types of content

Another behavior that can be harmful to the way we interact on WhatsApp is sharing the famous “chain messages”.

Much of the information contained in these messages is fake news, meaning you end up contributing to the spread of stories and news that are not real and could harm someone.

Conclusion

Although WhatsApp offers an encryption system that protects our conversations and exchanged content, it is always good to be careful and follow the practices presented in this text.

This way, you will be able to use your WhatsApp more calmly and without worrying about your security.

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