5 most common WhatsApp scams: Know How to Avoid Them
WhatsApp is one of the most popular applications today, and therefore it is not without its dangers. There are many cybercriminals who have it in their sights to commit all kinds of fraud and scams. Here we summarize some of the most common WhatsApp scams in 2021 and how to prevent them.
The objective of scams on WhatsApp is clear: make money, obtain data, or simply give clueless users a hard time. In order to avoid a bad time, below we will tell you which are the most common WhatsApp scams, but we will also provide you with some tricks on how to avoid them.
5 Most Common WhatsApp Scams?
Being the most downloaded application in the Playstore and AppStore, it is not surprising that there are many users who are not very cautious, as well as people who want to take advantage of them. These cybercriminals use strategies to scam the majority of people within their reach, among the most common techniques we can mention:
1. Spy WhatsApp
The interest in knowing and finding out the private lives of others allows us to fall for this scam. It consists of an additional complement for our WhatsApp in the form of a parallel application. Once you download it, you will not even be able to install it in its entirety, since during the process you will be redirected to a web page full of viruses and malware. Information will be downloaded from your devices, such as your phone number, contacts, passwords for your email and bank accounts, thus violating your security on the Internet.
2. WhatsApp Gold, Gold, Premium, among others
This is another strategy used by Internet criminals to steal user data. It is likely that in some way or another a message will reach your email or WhatsApp mailbox that tells you that you can go to the Premium version, offering you new benefits, be it emoticons, stickers, change the color of the application, among others.
If you click on the link, the process is similar, you will be taken to a page where a host of viruses and malware will enter your device, take your personal information and it will be used for malicious purposes.
3. Fake WhatsApp offer: Free Internet
In itself, the idea of unlimited browsing at the highest possible speed without having to spend a penny is very interesting, it is such a good offer that it borders on the unreal, in fact, it is, in the end, it is a WhatsApp scam very common. Most likely, you will see it in a group, motivated to share in chains.
The advice is easy, you should not click on these links, ignore them, or, failing that, inform others that this type of message is a scam. Entering this type of web portal subscribes you to paid SMS messaging services that will take your money in an accelerated way, and of course, you will never enjoy free Internet.
4. eBay / Amazon / Aliexpress giving away merchandise for their anniversary
This is another very popular scam, which comes in chains, indicating that due to the anniversary of the sales page that is mentioned they are giving away products. All you have to do is click on the link. After selecting any of the boxes, the image of “Winner” will appear, added to a piece of state-of-the-art equipment, for example, an iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Of course, to redeem it you will have to fill out a form, in addition to sharing the link with a series of contacts on your WhatsApp, that is, attract other potential victims. While you do all that, they will be stealing your personal data, bank passwords, phone number, and more.
5. Six Digit Code
If you ever receive a message on your WhatsApp with this type of format: “Hello, excuse me, I sent you a six-digit code by text message, it was a mistake, would you pass it on to me, please? It is important.” We recommend that you delete and block the contact since here we talk about identity theft.
The objective is that if you receive a security code, someone is trying to access your WhatsApp. In fact, if you send it, you would be giving permission for them to do what they want with your phone number, in addition to being able to install a program or take full control of your device.
Our recommendation is that you never pay attention to this type of message, report directly from the application, and notify your contacts, as this will allow these strategies to lose effectiveness and not be used.