More and more scammers are using WhatsApp. Find out how to take all the necessary precautions to avoid falling into the trap.
He increase in the use of WhatsApp by criminals to carry out cybercrimes It is due to a combination of factors that make this platform an attractive tool for scammers and cybercriminals.
WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging applications in the world, with more than 2 billion active users. This level of penetration makes Criminals can reach a large number of people easily. Additionally, since users tend to rely more on personal communications, Scammers can take advantage of this trust to deceive victims and make them more likely to fall into their traps.
In addition, it is a social network that is ideal for social engineering, a tactic used by cybercriminals to manipulate people and obtain sensitive information. Through persuasive and urgent messages, Scammers can convince victims to take harmful actionssuch as transferring money, sharing banking details, or clicking on malicious links.
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What is telephone spoofing, the new scam on WhatsApp
Telephone spoofing is a identity theft technique which scammers use to impersonate another person or entity when making calls or sending messages, in this case, through WhatsApp. Telephone spoofing consists of criminals manipulate sender information to make it appear that the message comes from a known or trusted number.
Scammers make your number appear on WhatsApp as if it were that of a friend, family member or colleague. They use this technique to appear to be banks, courier services, or even important organizations.
The objective is to get the victim to hand over confidential information such as bank keys, card numbers or security codes. That is why it is very important that all WhatsApp users be very attentive to avoid these situations.
How to avoid the scam
Avoiding telephone spoofing on WhatsApp requires specific precautions and making the most of the security measures offered by the platform.
Activate two-step verification
This feature adds an extra layer of security to your WhatsApp account. By enabling it, you will have to enter an additional PIN each time you set up your account on a new device.
- Go to Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification and activate it.
- Be sure to associate your email to recover your account if you forget your PIN.
Never share verification codes
- If you receive an SMS with a WhatsApp verification code, do not share it with anyone, even if it appears to come from a known contact.
- WhatsApp does not request these codes from users directly.
Be suspicious of unusual messages, even from known contacts.
- If a “friend” or “family member” asks you for money or confidential information, verify directly by calling them.
- Don’t trust the contact’s photo or name; These can be easily supplanted.
Source: Ambito
