There has been a big spike in the number of fraudsters on WhatsApp who are trying to trick users into giving them money. An urgent warning has been issued that encourages people to call any friend or family member who is asking them for money to check it is really them.
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Fraudsters typically infiltrate large WhatsApp groups and try to convince their members to give them money - often as they pose as someone who is already in the group. Religious communities in particular are being targeted.
How fraudsters steal profiles
The scammers often join the group as a new member with a fake name and photo. The next step is to call people in the group under this false identity and explain that there will be a group video call for members. The scammer tells members that they will be sent a single-use code which will ‘register’ them for this online event.
However, the scammer has no intention of organising a community call. The code is actually a registration code to register the victim’s WhatsApp account to a new device. Once members comply, their WhatsApp profiles are stolen and accessible on this new device.
Once this is accomplished, the fraudster enables two-step verification which means victims can no longer access their account. The scammer is then free to message the friends and family of the person whose account they have commandeered.
Since January 2023, Action Fraud has reported 268 reports of this type of scam.
Urgent warning issued to every WhatsApp user over new scam https://t.co/eeZNgz4pID
— MyLondon (@myldn) September 12, 2023
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National Fraud Intelligence Bureau advice
Oliver Shaw, Detective Chied Superintendent and Head of Action Fraud and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, explains:
WhatsApp continues to be a popular platform for community and religious groups, but sadly also for fraudsters. Here, the scammers rely on the goodwill of group members and their intrinsic desire to help others in distress.
He advises WhatsApp users to be weary when receiving messages or callsthrough the platform. He says people who have the app should pay particular attention to messages asking for account information. Even if you recognise the account’s name or photo - be aware this may not be the person you think it is.
The good news is that there is an easy way to check: call the person and check who you are speaking to matches the profile. Shaw suggests:
Never share your account information with anyone, and if you think it's a fraudulent approach, report the message and block the sender within WhatsApp. To make your account more secure, we advise setting up two-step verification to provide an extra layer of protection. This makes it increasingly more difficult for fraudsters to gain access to somebody else’s WhatsApp account.
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Sources used:
My London: Urgent warning issued to every person in UK using WhatsApp
