Which? Scam Alert Service

What’s up with WhatsApp scam messages?

From fake job opportunities to dodgy cryptocurrency schemes, fraudsters continue to use WhatsApp to coax victims into handing over their money and personal data. 

Unsolicited messages offering high-paid work are examples of advance fee fraud, where the scammer may eventually ask you to pay money for things like security checks or work equipment.

We’ve also seen fraudsters sending messages about dodgy cryptocurrency offers to convince people into joining groups under the guise of learning how to invest.

Discover how to avoid and report WhatsApp scams.

Avoiding WhatsApp scams

Put to Rights – unresolved scams

Do you have an issue that you need to put right? Which? is here to assist you.

For our latest Put to Rights piece, we helped a couple who lost £81,000 to ‘Friday afternoon fraud’, where scammers hack email accounts and pose as solicitors to send fake bank account details to homebuyers. 

Fraudsters often do this on a Friday, taking advantage of having the weekend to cover their tracks out of office hours. Halifax initially reimbursed half the money, but it refunded the full amount on review after contact from Which?.

Discover how Friday afternoon fraud works and how to report scams to us.

Resolving your unresolved scams

There’s now a much easier way to make us aware of scams directly with our scam sharer tool. Tell us your experiences of phishing emails, fake texts, cold calls and other types of fraud.

Stay safe,

Which? Scam Alert team

 

Author: Paul Middleton

Paul is a Ward Councillor for St. Andrews & Hornchurch Resident's Association Executive member.

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