WhatsApp is well known for its faster and easier messaging service. For that reason it has also become a target for the fraudsters too.
In the cyber world you'll never know how you are going to get tricked. Interesting fact is, you most close friend can make you a victim knowingly or unknowingly.
In my article I'll expose a notorious WhatsApp scam,I was just one click away from being tricked. They will take all your personal information for just some kind of tempting reward. Maybe some of you already have experience of this kind of frauds.
You heard it right we all are just one click away from a disaster. That can happen any time and anywhere with anybody from a single wrong click. Here is the brief on how they scam and how you can keep yourself safe from these scams.
Few days ago in my WhatsApp contact group, a friend of mine forwarded a message saying WhatsApp is giving away 1000 GB to its users and embedded a link with it.To get the internet, I need to click the link. Isn't it tempting?You'll get 1000 gigabytes instantly.
But I didn't click it first. I was sure that it is one kind of fraud. That forwarded link was looking suspicious. It is not containing any WhatsApp domain. Besides why WhatsApp will give you mobile data for free?
To be more sure, I took the help of Google and got my result just as I suspected.This is a scam and through this link the notorious fraudsters are taking away important informations of the users.
After getting this message a organisation named ESET conducted a test and it found that this link is a fraud.
If someone clicks the link he/she will see some questions and the questionire will ask him to answer the questions,some survey type questions.
After answering the questions they will tell to forward this message to 30 persons a traditional methods of scamming.The more they reach people by it the more the fraudsters are benefitted. It works like a click bait.Some kind of monetisation is working behind it.
That means the more this link is clicked the more they will earn money moreover they are getting the personal informations too.
Who knows how will they use it? After getting the results I blocked that friend for spamming. I have no emotion for that kind of people's who harm others.
If you want to read more about the ESET results:
This was published in the business today of India and well known Forbes magazine.So no matter how tempting any offers you get on the internet double check everything before taking any steps.
I didn't click that link but who knows how many people get scammed for their temptation? Here is how I avoid those people and these scams:
1) I directly block them without any hesitation or any sympathy. Well they may be my friend but why they shared this fraud links without justifying it's trustworthiness. If you get same type of offers from anyone block them.
2)Double check the link and don't click it. If you are unable to block than just ignore that person or that message.
3)If anything looks suspicious than search Google. Here you'll find everything before clicking any link.
4)Be wise,very wise when using social medias these days, these things have become a pathetic target of the scammers.
5)Most importantly, use your conscience and conscious. Before doing anything ask yourself a question first.
Why would company like WhatsApp will give you 1000 GB without any reason?
Here I've exposed a WhatsApp scam. Your carefulness can save you from data thefts and personal loss. So when using social media be extra careful from links. Best wishes and stay safe.
thank you for this reminder. I've been using Whatsapp now for a long time. I will be much careful now.