WhatsApp Web Phishing Scam Deceives Over 200 Victims, Netting Scammers $600K in Two Weeks
Since the start of November, more than 237 victims have fallen for the infamous WhatsApp scam leading to a staggering loss of $606,000 in less than two weeks.
It’s quite shocking, isn’t it?
To think that $606K vanished within 14 days.
Understanding the Scam
This period could well be considered a “golden age” for scammers as their ingenuity in crafting new scams appears to be taken up a notch with each attempt.
For the unaware, a new phishing scam is circulating via WhatsApp, using fake versions of the WhatsApp Web interface. These fraudulent sites are designed to mimic the official site so closely that they can only be distinguished by a careful examination of the URL.
These phishing websites are embedded with the authentic QR code from the official Whatsapp Web website. When a victim scans the QR code function on their mobile device, the website would be unresponsive.
Meanwhile, the scammers would then gain full access to the victim’s accounts. They exploit this access to extract personal information and even reach out to the victims’ contacts, soliciting funds to be transferred to specified accounts.
The victim would, however, remain to the breach as their WhatsApp app on their phone would continue functioning normally.
Watch our explanatory video below for an overview of how it works:
The police have issued an advisory highlighting several precautionary steps. They urged the public to firstly, ensure that they are using the official WhatsApp desktop app or website is being used.
Additionally, the police emphasize the importance of securing accounts by activating the ‘Two-Step Verification’ feature. They also caution against sharing sensitive personal data, such as banking information, verification codes, or One-Time Passwords (OTPs) with anyone.
To find out more information on scams, you can visit scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688.
Remember to stay vigilant and follow the advisory accordingly. After all, the imposition of the 9% GST is a heavy enough burden on our finances.