WhatsApp is a popular messaging app across the globe, offering a bunch of options to interact with your friends, and family via text messages, video calls, audio calls, and many other interesting features. And that popularity is the reason that online fraudsters tend to choose this social media platform to scam users. In the latest such incident, it is reported that WhatsApp users have fallen victim to an online scam- the fake WhatsApp account scam! The scam entices users into disclosing their secret information. Know all about the fake WhatsApp Support account scam below..
The WhatsApp updates tracker, WABetaInfo highlighted the new WhatsApp scam in a blog, “fake WhatsApp accounts may contact you posing as WhatsApp!” The report shared several screenshots by a Discord user who explained how the online fraudsters are using a verified badge icon in their profile picture to con susceptible users. The user immediately reported the contact because it was a fake account that wanted to steal some information from him. Online fraudsters try all possible ways to present themselves as someone who can be trusted. Hence, it is important to be careful when you receive a message from a suspicious account. The blog explained how to understand if you are chatting with a verified account on WhatsApp or if it’s a fake one.
How to differentiate between a real and a fake WhatsApp account
WhatsApp Support, the verified account by WhatsApp is there to help and assist WhatsApp users in all possible ways. But fraudsters are using tricks to present their fake account as a WhatsApp Support account. However, you can easily distinguish between the real and fake one.
Such as, when you chat with a verified contact, there is a verified badge placed next to the contact name in their contact info and chat. If in case the badge is elsewhere, say, on the profile picture then it’s a red flag for you! This means the contact pretends to be verified, but it is fake. These contacts will try to get some private information from you such as your bank details to avoid terminating your WhatsApp account or maybe ask you to reveal the OTP or 6-digit code to log into your WhatsApp account.
The blog clearly mentions that “WhatsApp never asks for details about your credit card and information like your 6-digit code or two-step verification PIN. WhatsApp doesn’t even ask for money or confidential information to avoid terminating accounts.” If someone is trying to get such information, it should ring the bell of danger in your mind.
What should WhatsApp users do?
If such a fake account of WhatsApp Support or any other such account tries to contact you, then you should immediately block and report the fake contact. You can simply tap on their chat info and report the contact. This will share the last 5 messages from this chat with the official WhatsApp moderation team to bring the context of the conversation so that they can suspend the account timely.
