Supposedly, the backups are of: 46 deleted WhatsApp messages, 3549 read messages and 1236579 restored messages.Īs mentioned, however, the link in the messages and attached HTML file redirect to a phishing website. The text within the emails lists the retrieved messaging and call histories. The scam messages are in Portuguese and claim that they contain recipients' WhatsApp message/call history backups, however, the attached HTML file and the link listed in the emails redirects to a phishing website, which attempts to trick recipients into providing their personal information.Īccording to a rough translation, the fake "WhatsApp" email subject states that recipients' private messages have been attached to the messages. These deceptive emails are in no way associated with the genuine WhatsApp company. As the name implies, the emails distributed through this spam campaign are disguised as important notifications from WhatsApp, a cross-platform messaging and VoIP (Voice over IP) service. The term "spam campaign" is used to define a large-scale operation, during which thousands of deceptive/scam messages are sent.
#WHAT IS WHATSAPP SCAMS FREE#
If you're worried about being targeted by scams, independent free consumer advice organisation Citizens Advice Scams Action urges people to visit their website to get help with online scams. If you've been a victim of a payment scam, you should contact your bank immediately if you've handed over your details, and you can report the incident to your local police station, to Action Fraud (for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland (for Scotland)."WhatsApp email scam" refers to a spam email campaign. A friend in need is a friend worth calling," Harnett added. "If you receive a suspicious message (even if you think you know who it's from), calling or requesting a voice note is the fastest and simplest way to check someone is who they say they are.
#WHAT IS WHATSAPP SCAMS VERIFICATION#
"We advise all users never to share their six-digit PIN code with others, not even friends or family, and recommend that all users set up two-step verification for added security." "We want to remind people that we all have a role to play in keeping our accounts safe by remaining vigilant to the threat of scammers," Kathryn Harnett, policy manager at WhatsApp, said in a statement. WhatsApp does its bit by protecting its users' personal messages with end-to-end encryption - it cannot see your private messages, but it must be noted that it does share your metadata with Facebook for advertising purposes. One of the most widely reported scams in recent months saw people receiving SMS messages purporting to be Royal Mail (the UK's postal service) advising people to pay a shipping fee. Police have issued warnings about WhatsApp scams that target elderly people, often posing as family members asking for sums of money. Earlier this year, a WhatsApp scam saw scammers posing as people's friends to ask for SMS security codes before hijacking their accounts. In recent months, messaging scams have taken the form of WhatsApp texts that begin with "hey mum, it’s me".
#WHAT IS WHATSAPP SCAMS HOW TO#
How to find stalkerware on your smartphone If it turns out to be untrue, report It to Action Fraud." The CALL step involves calling the number to verify the identity of the sender - is this message really from a friend or relative, as it purports to be? "Only when you’re 100 percent sure the request is from someone you know and trust, should you consider it. The THINK step asks you to consider: "Does this request make sense? Are they asking you to share a PIN code which they have had sent to you? Are they asking for money?" "Make sure your WhatsApp two-step verification is switched on to protect your account that you're happy with your privacy settings, and your six-digit pin is secure." actually mean? Per WhatsApp, the STOP entails taking five before responding. The findings also showed that these scams are most prevalent in SMS text message (46 percent), and WhatsApp (13 percent). Messaging scams have been on the rise, with 59 percent of British people stating they've received a message-based scam in the past year, per WhatsApp research undertaken by Opinium. CALL." campaign launched in the UK has joined forces with comedian Joel Dommett - who once was the victim of a scam in which he was catfished and blackmailed - and Friends Against Scams, the National Trading Standards' initiative to protect people from scams in England and Wales. WhatsApp is launching a new initiative to educate people on how to protect themselves from message-based scams.