The WhatsApp functionality that scammers use to steal money from your bank account

2024-05-03 18:00:00

Using WhatsApp is something that, nowadays, practically everyone does. This mobile instant messaging application, although it can also be used on other devices, is one of the most used to communicate through texts or audio messages, it even has its own call, video call and share ‘states’ option with your contacts.

This allows a world of possibilities when it comes to communicating with whoever we want in the way we prefer. WhatsApp is even used for communications today. not personalthat is, it also sneaks into the world of work or business, for example.

In the latter, the application may allow us to contact a company to request a service or to solve a problem that arises, as is attempted with WhatsApp Business. It is in this last scenario where we must be careful if we do not want to be scammed and have everything taken from our bank account. This happens because There are cybercriminals who impersonate our bank and contact us fraudulently, but how do they access our account?

How can they steal money from us through WhatsApp?

As reported by Xataka, some banking entities have reported a growing scam that takes advantage of WhatsApp video calls to steal money. This is possible because, when we are in a video call, screen sharing is allowed and, with enough stratagems, you can get a user to access their bank account while sharing a screen.

The ‘modus operandi’ of the scammers usually consists of the following: They pretend to be your bank and contact you by WhatsApp claiming that there is some error with our account, they use a profile photo and name that matches that of the bank. Once they tell us about the problem, they invite us to make a video call to be able to solve it electronically, moment when they request that you share your screen.

Here the first alarm may go off, and that is that they cannot see their video, to which they can tell that it has been damaged or there is some computer problem. Once we share the screen, they will tell us to access the bank application, that is, our online account, and You will see how we put our passwords to accesswhich are saved and used to enter later and leave your account at zero or make the purchases, transfers, etc., that you wish.

What to know to avoid falling for the scam

Although before sharing the screen, the WhatsApp application itself indicates that there may be danger, if we think that we are talking to our bank it will not cause us concern. Thus, what we must keep in mind at all times to avoid falling into this type of scam is that No bank will ask you for your account access information.whether by WhatsApp, video call with screen sharing, SMS, email or no other case.