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New scam on WhatsApp - Parents in particular should be careful

2021-08-19T15:20:28.546Z


Cyber ​​crime is increasing on the Internet. Criminals are also constantly finding new ways to rob users of their money on WhatsApp.


Cyber ​​crime is increasing on the Internet.

Criminals are also constantly finding new ways to rob users of their money on WhatsApp.

Germany - Criminals repeatedly go on the hunt for the WhatsApp messenger app.

The scam that is currently in circulation should be particularly difficult to identify.

Parents in particular should be careful.

The current fraud attempts are similar to another trickery in which strangers impersonate their own grandchildren. This time the focus is on the parents: As

reported by

Computerwoche

, the fraudsters are currently consciously contacting WhatsApp users and posing as their children.

The message usually begins with the statement that the old cell phone and the SIM are broken: “Hello mom!

I have a new cell phone number.

Cell phone and SIM are broken.

The old number can be removed ”.

If the first contact goes well in the eyes of the fraudsters, the request follows shortly afterwards to arrange for a three- to four-digit sum of money via real-time transfer, since ostensibly outstanding invoices have to be paid quickly.

Bank transfers are not yet possible with the new cell phone, this is usually the reason given by the fraudsters, but they promise to repay the money as soon as possible.

Just recently, numerous users worried about a hacking attack on WhatsApp accounts.

New scam on WhatsApp: Fraudsters are primarily aimed at parents

Parents in particular should be careful here, explains Kathrin Körber, legal expert at the Lower Saxony consumer center, to the online magazine: “The scam is nasty.

The fraudsters use the supposedly protected space of the private chat for their own purposes ”.

Despite having someone else's cell phone number, according to the expert, very few people question a WhatsApp message that seems to come from their own child.

If the writing style is also similar to that of the daughter or son, the attempted fraud is difficult to identify, adds Körber.

Caution is therefore always advised with strange numbers: If someone pretends to be a relative and asks for money, this should not be followed without verification.

“One phone call is usually enough to expose the attempted fraud,” recommends the expert.

And if you have already fallen into the trap: In cases of fraud, you should definitely report it to the police in person.

You can also ask for support from the cybercrime sector.

In addition, those affected should try to have the amount charged back through their own banking institution.

(klb)

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Source: merkur

All life articles on 2021-08-19

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