WhatsApp scams: precautions you need to take

With technological advancements, our lives have become increasingly easier. However, so have WhatsApp scams.

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 in Brazil alone – one of the countries with the highest adoption of the application – WhatsApp quickly became popular and, over time, became the main way for Brazilians to communicate, whether through messages, audios, photos, video calls, and even the recent stickers.

And when a messaging app gains so many users, it's no surprise that criminals quickly sought ways to use the tool to carry out various types of scams.

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

The main WhatsApp scams

While we are going about our normal routines – whether working or studying – there are thousands of gangs specializing in all sorts of scams.

To warn you about these practices, we have listed some of the main scams that can be carried out through WhatsApp and other communication networks and platforms. We have listed some of the most common scams so that you can protect yourself and also warn people close to you about these types of scams.

Scams involving Emergency Aid

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

And since this benefit – the Emergency Aid – was made available to people with fewer financial resources – and, in large part, to people who are more humble and do not have as much access to information – this benefit has become the focus of one of the main types of scams perpetrated via WhatsApp in the last 2 years.

In it, criminals share links promising the release of new installments of the Aid program, claiming that to receive them, it is necessary to fill out a specific registration form.

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

Spy apps

Another scam that has been gaining considerable traction on WhatsApp is the occurrence of so-called spyware applications.

As the name itself suggests, this type of scam is carried out when, after making contact through a specific WhatsApp message with a link – and the victim clicks on that link – the criminal gains total remote access to the victim's cell phone.

With this, the criminal can access everything from WhatsApp messages and gallery images to even remotely viewing passwords for social media and banking apps.

In this type of scam, the perpetrator "hijacks" the victim's data or even accesses their bank accounts and steals the money.

Device cloning

This is perhaps the best known on the list.

In this scam, criminals can impersonate a specific company or even an event organizer, making a tempting offer to the victim.

By contacting the victim – whether by message or even by phone call – with some 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, which is sent via SMS, to validate the request.

Through this code, the criminal gains access to the victim's WhatsApp, being able to freely navigate the contact list and groups on the application.

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

That's why he became so popular.

Furthermore, with the emergence and popularization of Pix (Brazil's instant payment system), this type of scam has generated even more victims, since the sending of the requested amounts of money can be done even faster than before, which ultimately makes it easier to perpetrate this scam on unsuspecting people.

How to avoid WhatsApp scams

With all the exposure that social media provides, it's necessary to take some precautions to avoid these crimes.

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

Below, we list some of these practices:

Carefully evaluate the messages you receive.

A great way to do this is to look for grammatical errors or incorrect information.

Always be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

It's that old 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 information to yourself!

It is highly unlikely that a reputable company will ask for personal information such as credit card numbers, bank account details, passwords, and security codes.

Therefore, whenever you interact with a business account, check if the account is verified.

No shortened links

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

Avoid sharing certain types of content.

Another behavior that can be harmful to how we interact on WhatsApp is the sharing of the infamous "chain messages".

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

Conclusion

Although WhatsApp offers an encryption system that protects our conversations and shared content, it's always good to be careful and follow the practices outlined in this text.

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

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