Don’t be tricked by WhatsApp scammers

People in Renfrewshire are being urged to be aware of a‘family emergency’ WhatsApp scam which has resulted in fraudsters stealing thousands of pounds.

WhatsApp fraud is a form of fraud in which cyber criminals pretend to be a victim’s acquaintance and then ask them for money.

Currently, most of those criminals pose as a friend or family member and ask for financial help because“they urgently have to pay a bill”or“they have an emergency and urgently need some money”.

That is why this type of fraud is also referred to as a friend or family emergency scam.

In most cases the phone number used by the criminal to commit WhatsApp fraud is unknown to the victim, yet the attached profile picture is familiar.

Consequently, the victim thinks that he or she is indeed communicating with a friend or family member.

Cybersecurity experts from VPN Overview are urging Buddies to be aware and take steps to prevent becoming a victim of the cruel fraud.

People are being reminded to check if the number is correct if someone asks for money and call the number or contact the person in a different way to verify the story. Experts also advise asking the scammer a question only your friend or acquaintance would know the answer to if suspicious.

A spokesperson from VPN Overview said:“Online safety is increasingly important, even for popular platforms likeWhatsApp.

“With over two billion users worldwide, WhatsApp has become a favourite target for fraudsters and tactics have become more ingenious and effective than ever.

“The majority of users are vulnerable when online, making it an irresistible platform for scammers.

“It is important to take steps to protect yourself from becoming a victim of online scammers.”