2024-08-25 14:44:45
A new scam known as ‘WhatsApp likes scam’ is gaining ground in Spain. Criminals pose as employees of companies that work with social networks, offering victims an alleged job that has interesting publications on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
Fraud begins with a WhatsApp message coming from an unknown number, where a service offer is presented that will promote the visibility of content creators on YouTube. According to the cybersecurity company ESET, the numbers from which these messages come are mainly from Indonesia, although they have also been reported from places such as the United Kingdom, Libya, Guatemala, Togo or even Spain.
How does ‘WhatsApp likes scam’ work?
The variations of the scam are simple: they convince the user that they should ‘like’ the videos and, after doing so, send a screenshot as proof. In exchange, he made a promise three euros for all ‘as’. Scammers ask that they can earn between 40 and 500 euros, a test sum that causes many people to look for ways to make money.
ESET warns that those who send these messages are ‘bots’ programmed to maintain the same feeding pattern, regardless of the user’s response. In addition, it has been found that these messages are also sent through other rich communication services in addition to WhatsApp, such as Telegram or Messenger.
Although in some cases scammers pay a small fee to build trust, their ultimate goal is to get the victims’ bank details. To achieve this, they redirect users to a portal under the pretense that they need information to make future payments. Once this data is obtained, criminals can make fraudulent payments to victim accounts.
What should I do if I have been a victim of the ‘WhatsApp like scam’?
This type of scam is on the rise, and authorities recommend taking extreme precautions against suspicious messages. National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) has issued a series of recommendations for those who have been victims of the ‘likes’ scam on WhatsApp.
First, it is advisable to collect all possible evidence of fraud and complaint file formal before the National Police or Civil Guard. Then, it is important to take a copy of the report to the bank to try to recover the lost money.
In addition, INCIBE suggests doing an internet search on yourself, a practice known as ‘egosurfing’, to verify if the scammer has used personal information obtained without permission. If you find compromised data, you should immediately contact the platform where the content is hosted and request its deletion.
Finally, if the situation requires it, it is recommended to go to the Spanish Data Protection Agency to manage the protection of personal information and guarantee that it is not used. At this point, the methods of action is the key to reducing the impact of this type of fraud.
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