WhatsApp is a widely used messaging app, but unfortunately, it is not secure from scams. In today’s interconnected world, we can easily connect with our friends and family without worrying about distance. However, WhatsApp is a secure messaging app, but you should be aware of the latest WhatsApp scams to protect yourself against them.
Securing yourself in the digital realm is more challenging than ever due to cyber threats and scammers. Therefore, in this guide, you are going to explore some of the latest WhatsApp and further investigate the essential ways to protect yourself against these threats.
Are you aware of how the latest WhatsApp scams cause damage to millions of users? According to Northamptonshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, the latest WhatsApp scams cost around £1.5 million last year and will even increase by the end of this year.
Most Common WhatsApp Scams
Before jumping towards the prevention ways, you need to be aware of the most common WhatsApp scams to know if something similar happens to you. The scams are common, and we all have faced these once in our life. Hence, knowledge is the key to protecting yourself against them.
Phishing Links
One of the most common WhatsApp you should know is phishing links. Scammers and hackers send you fake links and act as legitimate institutions and services. Clicking on the links leads you to phishing sites designed to steal your critical data and chats. All your data will be hacked if you click the link, so avoiding clicking on every link is essential. You need to check the website URL and its authenticity before clicking.
Impersonation Scams
In impersonation scams, the scammers act as your friends or loved ones to gain your trust. They often make fake profiles, message you by their names, and ask for some help or money. Unfortunately, we humans become sensitive when it comes to our families, and the scammers take full advantage of it by creating some emergency scenarios. One of the most common is “Mom and Dad scams.” Therefore, careful consideration is necessary to avoid these scams.
Gift or Giveaway Scams
Another trending WhatsApp scam nowadays is receiving a gift or a giveaway message from an unknown number. The scammers send a text using any famous brand or company name and send links to avail gift cards or giveaways. However, in reality, these links will lead you to malware software. Malware software is installed on your phone when you click these links and get all your crucial data.
Fake Tech Support Scams
Scammers often pretend to be WhatsApp support agents and ask about your personal information. They claim a technical issue in your WhatsApp account, and they are resolving it. The scammers usually ask for remote access to your WhatsApp to steal your crucial data. Don’t trust any of these scammers unless they are from WhatsApp’s verified technical support.
In order to protect yourself from WhatsApp scams, there are a few things you can do. It’s important to be aware of the different types of scams that exist, such as phishing scams and fake giveaways.
You should also be cautious of messages from unknown numbers and avoid clicking on suspicious links. After being aware of some trending WhatsApp frauds, let’s explore how to protect yourself against these scams and maintain your digital security.
How to Protect Yourself From WhatsApp Fraud
Protecting yourself against the growing WhatsApp scams and taking preventive measures to safeguard your digital identity is essential. Securing yourself against them is challenging. Nevertheless, with effective ways, you can protect yourself against fraudulent activities.
Beware of Suspicious Links
One way to guard against WhatsApp scams is to avoid clicking every link someone sends you. Suspicious links can be crucial to your privacy, and you lose your data authority if you click on any phishing link.
Hence, avoid clicking links from unknown and unwanted sources, especially offers and urgent messages. These types of messages are a scam. You must pay the price for stealing your data and personal information if you don’t avoid clicking them.
Verify Sender Identity
Have you ever got a message from the name of a well-known brand that you got a prize bond or something? Those links are phishing links to get access to your data. To save yourself against them, be cautious of messages from unexpected contacts.
Therefore, verify the sender’s identity by searching on other platforms. Additionally, check the website’s URL to identify if the source is authentic or fake. You can securely proceed to the link after confirming the sender’s identity.
Avoid Sharing Personal Details
One of the crucial things to protect yourself against security threats is to avoid sharing any kind of personal information on WhatsApp. WhatsApp is a messaging app, and it is not safe to use for sharing your personal details.
Legitimate organizations never ask you to share your details through WhatsApp chat. Therefore, to protect yourself against Whatsapp scams, avoid sharing your personal information like your address, financial details, or identification documents through messaging apps.
Download a Secure VPN
Using a Secure VPN contributes to your overall online security and adds an extra layer of protection to your private data. VPN encrypts your internet traffic and makes it difficult for scammers to recognize you.
However, it is crucial to refrain from clicking on unfamiliar links since a VPN may not be able to protect you once you land on a harmful website. VPNs conceal your actual location and IP address, making it difficult for fraudsters to obtain your personal information.
Set-Up Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication adds additional security to your WhatsApp account. Enabling two-factor authentications adds an extra login step, hence an extra layer of protection. This authentication offers you an additional PIN to access your WhatsApp account.
Besides your account credentials, you will need a one-time code for future log-ins. Moreover, it ensures that you enter that additional PIN to access your account, even if you lose or forget your SIM card somewhere.
Stay Informed
Staying aware of the recent cyber security attacks and Whatsapp scams is essential in order to guard against them. Always carefully read about the different scams and attacks to find out the reasons behind them so you can avoid doing the same. An essential step is to learn lessons from past incidents.
Therefore, keep yourself updated about the latest WhatsApp scams. The best way to stay informed about fraudulent activities is to read official security updates and news. Nevertheless, awareness is the fine line for your self-defense and the best way to protect yourself against the latest Whatsapp frauds.
Instantly Report Scams
The best way to protect WhatsApp scams is to report them on official support instantly. Every message and chat has the report option, and if many people report any account simultaneously, WhatsApp’s support immediately takes action against that account.
WhatsApp also provides tools and ways to report suspicious activity to safeguard user privacy. If you encounter any scam or harmful activity, reporting it instantly to WhatsApp can protect other people from being a victim of WhatsApp scams.
Summing Up
As technology evolves, so do the tactics of scammers. To be prevalent against WhatsApp scams, you must follow the above tips to guard against them. Get OysterVPN to add an extra layer of security to your online privacy in the digital era.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to enable two-factor authentication and keep your app updated to the latest version. By taking these precautions, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to WhatsApp scams.
