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Don't be another victim of 171! Stay up to date with the latest WhatsApp scams and learn how to protect yourself from digital fraud

Written by Sara Aquino
Published 15/01/2025 às 14:19
Discover the new WhatsApp scams in 2025 and learn how to avoid becoming another victim of digital fraud
SOURCE: CANVA

Discover the new WhatsApp scams in 2025 and learn how to avoid becoming another victim of digital fraud

Os scams on WhatsApp have become increasingly frequent, affecting not only direct victims but also their close contacts. As the app becomes more popular, criminals are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to deceive users, using social engineering techniques and social networks to access personal accounts and commit crimes. digital fraud.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common forms of WhatsApp scams and provide essential tips to help you avoid falling for digital fraud.

What is the WhatsApp scam?

WhatsApp scams can take many forms, but they always have the same goal: to steal personal and financial information. victim and then ask your contacts for money.

Although there is a lot of talk about “hacking”, in most cases scammers do not need to break into systems, but rather deceive people through false stories and manipulative requests.

The use of social engineering is the most common method, where criminals create an environment of trust so that the victim provides sensitive information without realizing that they are being deceived.

This can happen through fake links, fraudulent messages or even disguised phone calls.

Common WhatsApp scams

1. Fake job offer

In a more elaborate scam attempt, criminals offer fake jobs, often with the promise of payment for simple tasks such as commenting on websites or writing reviews.

To “validate” the payment, the putschists They ask the victim to provide bank details or make financial transfers, often instructing them to purchase products and send funds to a supposed financial institution.

How to avoid: Be wary of job offers that involve upfront payments or asking for banking information at the outset. Research the company and verify its authenticity.

2. Institutional message scam

In this scam, the criminals they pose as trusted institutions, such as banks or government agencies, to create a state of urgency in the victim.

They claim there is a problem with the account or an important action that needs to be taken immediately, which causes the person, overcome by fear or anxiety, to provide sensitive data or even make payments.

How to avoid: If you receive a message like this, take a deep breath and check directly with the institution through official channels. Be wary of messages that create a sense of urgency.

3. Fake WhatsApp Support

Another common scam is trying to impersonate the company's technical support. WhatsApp. The criminal sends a message saying that their account is being accessed from another device and asks the victim to confirm that they are the owner of the account.

Through a fake link, the scammer can steal login information and gain access to the account.

How to avoid: WhatsApp never sends direct messages asking for account confirmations. If you receive something like this, do not click on any links and be suspicious of any message that was not initiated by you.

4. Fake QR code scam

One of the most recent scams discovered is the WhatsApp Spoofing, in which scammers manipulate a fake QR Code to gain access to the victim's WhatsApp account.

 The victim, distracted, scans the code, allowing criminals to send messages on their behalf.

This technique is especially dangerous because, unlike other methods, it does not remove the victim's access to the account, which makes the fraud go unnoticed for longer.

How to avoid: Never scan QR Codes from unknown sources. If you need to use a QR Code, make sure it comes from a trusted source.

5. Vishing: Phone call scam

Vishing is a scam carried out by Phone, where the scammer pretends to be someone from a financial institution or official body.

Through a conversation, the criminal tries to convince the victim to provide personal information or make bank transfers.

The advantage of this scam is that, by speaking directly to the victim, the criminal can manipulate the situation more easily.

How to avoid: If you receive a suspicious call, do not provide any personal information and hang up immediately. Legitimate institutions never ask for sensitive information over the phone.

How to protect yourself?

To avoid falling for scams on WhatsApp, it is essential to take some simple but effective precautions:

Keep your WhatsApp updated: Frequent app updates can fix security vulnerabilities and improve protection against scams.

Do not share passwords or verification codes: Never give out your password or verification codes that you receive via SMS or email, even if the message appears to be official.

Be wary of unknown links: Scammers often send links to fraudulent websites. Hover over the link (without clicking) to check if the address is actually trustworthy.

Enable two-step verification: Two-step authentication is one of the most effective ways to protect your account from hacking.

Educate your contacts: Scammers often target victims’ friends and family. Educate them about common scams and help them protect themselves.

WhatsApp scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using a variety of deception tactics to steal data and money from unsuspecting users.

Prevention and knowledge about the most common digital fraud practices, such as fake QR Code scams, fake support, vishing and others, are essential to protect yourself and your contacts. With a little caution and attention, it is possible to avoid falling into these traps and keep your personal and financial information safe.

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Sara Aquino

General Pharmacist and Writer. I write about Jobs, Courses, Science, Technology and Energy. Passionate about reading, writing and music.

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