The instant messaging app "WhatsApp" has warned its users about scam messages that are sent to their accounts, appearing as written text from their friends' phones. On Thursday, British network "Sky News" reported that "WhatsApp" launched a awareness campaign in cooperation with a consumer protection authority in the UK regarding this new type of fraud. The awareness campaign states that 59 percent of Britons received scam messages or know someone who did last year.
The campaign is based on three main steps: Stop, Think, and Call, aimed at alerting potential victims about the new fraud method and how to combat it. Specifically, the campaign advises: "Take your time before responding to this message, and ensure that you have activated two-step verification to protect yourself. Think: Does the request make sense? Are they asking for money? Always remember that scammers exploit people's kindness and trust. Call, as the call is important to verify that your friend is indeed in trouble."
Cybercriminals can hack accounts on "WhatsApp" by using other accounts they have already breached and exploit them to send "help request" messages. Often, hackers employing the "friend in trouble" tactic ask for a code and request the victim to send it back to them, which allows the criminals to breach the account.
"WhatsApp" stated: "If you receive a suspicious message, the easiest and quickest way is to call the message sender or ask for a voice message. The purpose of this is to ensure that it is truly the person behind the message." It added: "A friend in trouble or in need deserves a call." The instant messaging app also emphasized that if users suspect fraud, they should report it to the relevant authorities.
