WhatsApp has changed the game here in South Africa – just think about how many fewer calls you make these days, and how organising something with mates is as simple as creating a group.

Of course as we come to value its services more and more, so do the skelms look at new ways to use this against us.

MyBroadband have put together a list of the latest scams looking to fleece people of their money, so here’s a round up of what to look out for:

WhatsApp OTP favourites scam

[It] involves a scammer tricking you into believing he is someone on your contact list whose number has changed.

In reality, the scammer has gained access to a contact list which contains your number.

Once he believes he has you hooked, he tells you an SMS is being sent to your phone that contains a number – which you must forward to him so he can add you to his favourites.

This is a one-time PIN, which is meant to protect your accounts from fraudsters. Never send these PINs to anyone in a text message.

WhatsApp malware link-sharing scam

Another scam doing the rounds promises discounts from popular restaurants or stores.

To redeem the offer, it asks you to share the promotion to 10 contacts – which appears in your chats as a “Look [link]”.

…clicking the link will install malware on your device, which can be used to steal your identity or access your banking details.

WhatsApp “Ultra-Light Wi-fi” scam

A variant of this scam doing the rounds…promises a new WhatsApp feature – Ultra-Light Wi-fi – in return for sharing a link 10 times.

When you click on the link your are tricked into providing your personal information via a survey website. In some cases the website will infect your phone with malware.

WhatsApp subscription competition

A WhatsApp “competition” is doing the rounds, where users receive a message which links to a Facebook page.

Navigating to this page lets you spin a prize wheel, which promises a prize, such as a new smartphone. Spinning the wheel takes you to a new page, where to claim your prize you have to share your result 10 times.

Clicking the continue link after sharing your result takes you to a new page where you are told your prize has been reserved.

To claim the prize, you have to enter your cellphone number and click a “Yes, I want” button.

This takes you to a new screen which informs you an SMS will be sent to your phone, and you are instructed to reply “Yes” to this SMS.

Doing so opts you into a R7-per-day subscription service.

There are a number of other scams out there so check out the rest HERE.

Exercise caution, and remember sometimes when it sounds too good to be true it really is.

[source:mybroadband]

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