Scam on WhatsApp: Unsolicited International Calls and Text Targeting Users

Have you received WhatsApp calls and messages from international numbers starting from +62 or +84 or +254? Have they told you they are HR of some company and offered you a lucrative job offer? 

If yes, then you are not alone. Recently, a wave of scam calls and texts on WhatsApp targeting users in India has been reported.

Many of the calls and messages come from unknown international numbers starting with country codes such as +60 for Malaysia, +62 for Indonesia, +84 for Vietnam, +254 for Kenya, and +223 for Mali.

Upon answering, users have reported being targeted with a variety of scams, ranging from part-time job offers to promises of earning money through YouTube.

If you use WhatsApp, it's essential to know about this scam and how to protect yourself from falling victim to it. In this article, we'll explain these scam calls and share best practices to keep yourself safe.

How Does this Scam Work?

Scammers often use tactics to impersonate legitimate companies or individuals and offer to entice work-from-home opportunities or easy tasks that offer money.

The scam typically starts with a call or message from an unknown international number, often from countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, or Mali, with the caller or sender posing as a representative of a reputable company or a hiring manager. They offer a job opportunity, which may involve performing simple tasks such as liking or sharing YouTube videos or participating in surveys or other online activities.

To gain trust, they usually offer small payments for completing these tasks and ask for proof of completion. Once the victim has completed several tasks and received payment, they will then offer higher-paying tasks, but this time requiring a hefty deposit upfront. This is where users get duped. Once the user deposited the amount in the hope of better returns, the scammers will run away or will not respond.

What is ‘Money for Likes’ scam?

Recently, a 65-year-old retired Indian Army veteran lost all his savings - Rs 1.1 crore - to a ‘Money for Likes’ scam. He was approached with an offer to earn money by liking videos online.

According to Pune Cyber Crime police, this kind of scam starts with scammers approaching users on WhatsApp, and offering them easy work-from-home jobs. The job requires hitting the like button on videos, commenting on posts, or sharing content on social media platforms.

To gain the victim's trust, the scammers initially offer small payments with promises of higher returns in the future. As the victim becomes more invested in the scheme, the scammers start asking for larger sums of money.

At some point, a fake issue is raised with the returns, and the scammers demand even more money to recover the already paid amount.

What is Spoofing?

Scammers may also use tactics like spoofing, where they use software to fake the caller ID to make it look like the call is coming from a legitimate source, such as a bank or a government agency.

For example, a scammer may spoof a bank's phone number and call you, pretending to be a bank representative and asking for sensitive information like credit card details.

They will then ask to verify their account details, including their credit card number, expiration date, and security code. The scammers may use a variety of tactics to make you feel rushed or threatened, such as saying that their account is in danger of being closed or that you will be charged a fee if they don't provide the information immediately.

Once the scammers have obtained this information, they can use it to make fraudulent purchases or withdraw money from your account.

It's important to remember that legitimate banks will never ask for sensitive information over the phone, so if you receive such a call, it's best to hang up and contact your bank directly to verify if the call was legitimate.

WhatsApp Safety Measures

You can stop receiving WhatsApp messages, calls and status updates from certain contacts by blocking them. You can also report problematic content to WhatsApp.

If you receive an unsolicited message or call from an unknown number, you should not engage with the sender or provide any information. Instead, you should immediately block the number and report it to WhatsApp.

WhatsApp has built-in security features that allow users to report and block suspicious numbers. Users can also adjust their privacy settings to limit who can see their profile and status updates.

By taking these precautions, users can protect themselves from falling victim to these scams and keep their personal and financial information safe.

It is important to be aware of the various types of scams and fraudulent activities that take place through WhatsApp. Scammers use various techniques, such as spoofing, impersonation, and phishing, to trick you into revealing your personal information and financial details. It is essential to be cautious and vigilant while receiving calls or messages from unknown numbers or suspicious sources.