People on WhatsApp have been warned of fraudsters pretending to be user support to scam users out of personal information.
WABetaInfo, a blog covering the messaging platform, has alerted users on how to recognise the signs.
“These contacts want to get some private information from you, for example, your credit card details to avoid terminating your WhatsApp account. In some cases, they also ask for your 6-digit code to log into your WhatsApp account!” says WABetaInfo.
How can you tell if you’re actually speaking to a WhatsApp support?
Real WhatsApp customer support members will have a verified badge on their profile page – a tick mark inside a green circle – next to their contact name in the chat and profile page, BirminghamLive reports.
(Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Suspicious accounts are tricking users by putting a tick mark elsewhere, such as inside their profile image.
Moreover, WhatsApp never asks for details about your credit card and information like your 6-digit code or two-step verification PIN.
If an account on the app is asking you for this, it means it is a fake account that’s trying to scam you.
WABetaInfo recommends blocking and reporting the fake account after which the last five messages of your chart will be shared with the official WhatsApp moderation team.
It’s best practice to keep your guard up as fraudsters can pretend to be someone you know, such as with the “hi mum” scam.
WhatsApp’s guidance says: “If a message looks suspicious or sounds too good to be true, don’t tap, share, or forward it. When you receive this type of message, we recommend you report the message, block the sender, and delete the message.
They added: “Learn how to block and report contacts here.”
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