WhatsApp Scam Targets Hundreds of Thousands in Italy: Your Data is at Risk
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A sophisticated new scam is sweeping across Italy, exploiting vulnerabilities within WhatsApp to steal sensitive user data from hundreds of thousands of citizens. The threat, which resurfaced on August 4, 2025, poses a significant risk to personal and financial security, turning everyday smartphones into potential instruments of data theft.
The scale of the attack is alarming. Victims are finding their passwords, access credentials, personal photos and videos, contact lists, banking information, and even national digital identity credentials (SPID) compromised in a matter of moments. As one source stated, “You lose everything with a click.” The repercussions extend beyond individual loss, as hackers leverage stolen contacts to broaden the scam’s reach, creating a cascading effect of fear and vulnerability.
The “Dancer Scam”: How It Works
Security experts are familiar with this type of attack, which has evolved and reappeared across various platforms. Currently, it’s manifesting as what some are calling the “scam of the dancer.” The tactic relies on deceptively innocuous messages sent from unknown numbers, often disguised with familiar names – “Marco,” “Giovanni,” “Paola,” or “Maria” – designed to pique the recipient’s curiosity.
These messages typically claim a simple change, such as a new phone number: “I am, I changed number,” or similar phrasing. The key to the scam’s success lies in enticing users to click a link within the message. “If you click and open, you’re in trouble,” a cybersecurity analyst warned.
Once clicked, the link directs users to a malicious page that immediately begins harvesting their data. This includes access to banking apps, personal information columns, and other sensitive accounts. The speed and efficiency of the data theft are particularly concerning.
Protecting Yourself: The Simple, Yet Difficult, Solution
The advice from experts is straightforward: do not click on suspicious links. However, implementing this advice is proving challenging. As one observer noted, “Between saying to do, it is said, there is the sea.” The emotional pull of a message from a seemingly familiar contact can override caution.
To safeguard your information, the following steps are crucial:
- Do not open messages from unknown numbers, even if the displayed name appears familiar.
- Delete suspicious conversations immediately.
- Remain vigilant and skeptical of unsolicited messages, even from known contacts.
This scam highlights the ever-present threat of digital fraud and the importance of maintaining a healthy level of skepticism when interacting with online communications. While WhatsApp is currently the primary channel for this particular scam, experts emphasize that it is merely the latest iteration of a well-established tactic. Staying informed and practicing safe online habits are the best defenses against becoming the next victim.
