A new kind of phishing is emerging: WhatsApp fraud. Criminals still want to steal money or data from you, but this time they try it with a mobile number via WhatsApp.
The number of WhatsApp fraud reports has risen from two in 2016 to 750 in the first four months of 2019. The total loot already exceeds €300,000.
By impersonating a friend or family member, criminals contact you. This is possible with the notification that they have a new number, but they can also take over an entire WhatsApp account. They start a normal conversation but at some point the conversation turns to financial problems and the criminals will ask you for money.
This is how they get your data
A well-known way to get telephone numbers is via Marktplaats. Many people have this in their profile. The criminals use this telephone number to check on social media who friends and family are and what the contact is like. If they approach you with a new number, the criminals often take the profile picture of one of the friends or relatives.
But they can also use the number found on Marktplaats to take over a WhatsApp account. Rik Langedijk, Cybercrime team leader of the Amsterdam police, explains how: by creating a new account with the number, they gain access to the contacts of that number. However, to verify the new account, they must enter a code. This comes in via text message. Because the criminals have not yet taken over that telephone number at that time, they indicate via Marktplaats that the code was accidentally sent to a wrong number and that it is intended for someone else. Once they receive the code, they can take over the account.
To check
If a friend or family member asks you to transfer money via WhatsApp – via a new or already known number – always check that this is correct. Contact your acquaintance via another channel (e-mail, landline or the mobile number known to you) and ask what is going on. If nothing turns out to be wrong, you are dealing with a fraudster.
Further tips to prevent WhatsApp fraud
- Do you have a Marktplaats account? Do not put your telephone number here, but only share it when you have contact with a potential buyer.
- Make as little data and posts as possible publicly on Facebook and other social media.
- Shield your friends list on social media.
- Look up the unknown number on Google. If this number has been used more often for fraud, there is bound to be information about it.
Source: Scammed
