Family emergency crisis latest internet scam targeting Canadians across the country
Whatsapp?
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A lot if you use this popular app to keep in touch with family and friends: Just like other internet tools, it is vulnerable to criminal elements and according to online security experts, it gets more compromised every day.
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WhatsApp is one of the most popular communication apps because it’s free and allows the user to make voice and video calls, not to mention text messages and more, all with a Wi-Fi connection. There are two billion users worldwide who have found the app easy to use and convenient – making it vulnerable in a world where cybersecurity issues are at an all-time high. Research shows that WhatsApp has become one of the top targets for scammers, who use some powerful, ingenious – and effective – tactics to take advantage of users.
The latest scam of choice? Scaring people into thinking that a family or loved one is in dire need of money or their life is at stake.
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Usually, the perpetrators pretend to be in a hurry to most likely trick their victims into taking immediate action. “Unfortunately, on average, victims lose thousands of dollars to (this particular) scam,” the report said.
Age also appears to be a factor, with most victims in their 50s and older.
It’s scary when a call comes in under such conditions – and the recipient of the ruse is overwhelmed by the urgency of the request.
How does this happen? According to cybersecurity experts at VPN Overview, in most cases the phone number used by the criminal is unknown to the victim, but the attached profile picture (seen in the app) may look familiar to the victim – leading them to believe they are communicating with a friend or Family member. “However, criminals can easily copy a photo from other social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram,” officials note from the media release. “The same applies to other information that can be used to mislead the victim.” Like the vocabulary a person uses, or specific events that the person has posted about online (like a birthday party at a bar).
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VPN security experts say online security is becoming more and more important, even for popular platforms like WhatsApp. The company has compiled its top tips for spotting and preventing WhatsApp (and other) scams:
CHEATER:
– Create a sense of urgency and force you to pay quickly.
– Contacting you from an unknown number.
– Inform about number changes and quickly talk about money.
– Poor English is used in their messages.
– Doesn’t want to be called.
– Asks to transfer money to an unknown account or uses an app that hides account numbers.
What is WhatsApp hijacking?
It’s when a cyber criminal breaks into a victim’s WhatsApp account to commit fraud. Sandra Gyles is an IT Specialist for VPN Overview and reports on the company’s website that for an experienced – or even inexperienced – cybercriminal “it is easier to break into someone else’s account than it sounds”.
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The following scenario might sound unlikely or overly complicated to some, but it happens more often than you think, Gyles writes, offering how the scammer can take control so easily:
– The scammer gets the phone number of his first victim.
– The cyber criminal (re)installs WhatsApp on his phone or other device.
– The criminal contacts the victim by posing as an acquaintance of the victim.
– The WhatsApp scammer lies to the victim and says that he accidentally sent his verification code to the victim.
– The cyber criminal tricks the victim into giving them the verification code, which they then enter into their own phone, thereby gaining access to the victim’s WhatsApp account and all of the victim’s contacts.
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Tips to avoid WhatsApp scams
– Check that the number is correct when someone asks for money.
– Check the language and communication style of the message.
– Call the number or otherwise contact the person to verify the story.
– Don’t let the scammer pressure you; Think logically.
– Ask the scammer a question to which only your friend or acquaintance would know the answer in case of suspicion.
– Secure voicemail with a personal code.
– Never send a verification code unsolicited.
– Set up “2-factor authentication” on WhatsApp.
Remember, if criminals manage to hijack your WhatsApp account, they can easily scam your contacts and potentially take over your friends and family’s accounts as well.