WhatsApp is a popular communication platform among youth and adults alike. However, like any other online communication program, it is vulnerable to attacks. Hackers and scam artists utilize this platform for all sorts of malicious intents and purposes. This is not just simple emails asking for personal details. Rather, they make sophisticated attempts that trick users and they may end up losing both their private information and their money. Teenagers are often oblivious to such Whatsapp scams and are among the most affected groups.
In this article, I will explain different types of WhatsApp scams as all parents should be aware of these. Moreover, I will tell you how to spot them and help you keep your children safe.
Can someone hack my phone by texting me on WhatsApp?
The short answer is no, just getting a message doesn’t hack the phone. But what is transmitted within those messages could be potentially dangerous. Hackers employ different tactics to lure users into compromising their devices and crucial data.
Here’s how these scams can unfold:
- Malware hidden in links or attachments: A message may contain a link or file that looks harmless. However, if clicked, it can download programs on the phone like spyware that logs the activity on the phone.
- Phishing attacks: Sometimes, the message will contain a request to ‘confirm’ the account by clicking on a link or inputting some information. After you give the required information, the scammers will breach your account.
- Data harvesting through apps: Cybercriminals can share links to a legitimate application or webpage to gain your personal information.
A message receipt doesn’t amount to a threat, you just have to learn how to deal with it.
10 common WhatsApp scams parents should know
Here are the top 10 WhatsApp scams that parents need to be aware of:
Phishing scams
This is one of the most prevalent WhatsApp cons. Fraudsters write messages in the name of a reputable organization, such as a bank or any government department. The message will request personal details. These messages include links that will take you to fake websites through which your data is harvested.
Lottery and prize scams
Your child may receive a message saying they have won a lottery, been awarded a scholarship, been gifted a prize or a costly gadget, etc. The message will request them to send their personal information or confirm to parcel a token amount to get the prize money. Such lotteries and prizes are mostly scams. Thus, interacting with the received message endangers the child by exposing them to identity theft or monetary fraud.
Verification code scams
This scheme involves impersonating your kid’s friend or family and asking for a code received on their mobile phone. The code is then used to hack their WhatsApp account. After gaining access, the scammer can impersonate your child and communicate with other people.
Fake job offers
Scam artists send messages with offers of easy and high-paying jobs to teenagers. If it looks too good to be true then it probably is. Such messages usually seek individual information or charges for the so-called application processing fee.
Friend in distress
In this con, the scammer presents themselves as a friend or a family member of your child. They may tell your kid that they have lost their wallet or are stranded in some country. When the message is so alarming, your kid might act impulsively depending on the urgency of the matter.
Romance scams
Loose hearts seeking companies or partners over the internet are abused by con artists imitating potential pen pals. After the desired targets open up to the scammer, they may request money or personal information which can be utilized for identity theft or financial gains.
Subscription scams
There is a new scam going around in which the bad actors may ask your child to cough up a subscription fee. This fee relates to WhatsApp as scammers threaten to terminate the account if it is not paid upfront. This is a fraud because WhatsApp is a free open messenger.
Fake charity appeals
Your child may get messages about collections for charitable purposes or disasters, which usually tug at the heartstrings. The scammer claims to be doing charity and will ask for monetary donations, but does not contribute to the charity. Instead, it fills the pockets of those con artists.
WhatsApp gold
Sometimes, scammers may offer a different version of WhatsApp to your child. They will dub it “WhatsApp Gold” and claim it to have premium features. WhatsApp Gold or any other such app is fake. It could be a potential malware or a trojan program to hack your device.
WhatsApp call scams
Fraudsters may start a call through the application, but when speaking to the user, they attempt to obtain their details or make the user download a virus. These calls may sound completely genuine and harmless so users need to be cautious when dealing with these people.
How do you tell if a scammer is texting you?
Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish between a genuine message and a fake one. This is true especially for young ones who are unaware of the tricks used by the scammers. You can help your child identify the signs of a scammer by looking for these red flags:
- Unknown numbers: If your child has received a message from an anonymous number and the sender purports to be from a certain company or organization, they should be wary.
- Too good to be true: Anything that says “act now,” “free money,” “big discount,” or “prizes, lotteries,” etc is usually a scam.
- Urgency and pressure: Some fraudulent messages will attempt to make the recipient act fast. These include threats that your account will be closed if you don’t do as told. It could also be a pop-up message notifying you that a friend is in trouble and needs your assistance.
- Requests for personal information: No authentic organization will demand your password, credit card number, or verification code through WhatsApp.
- Suspicious links: Teach your children not to open links from unknown people. People behind scams always mask the link that gives way to the phishing site or download of a malware program.
- Unusual messages from known contacts: When you receive a message from a friend or relative that is out of character, it is best to not respond because something might be wrong with their accounts.
What happens if you reply to a scammer on WhatsApp?
It may seem harmless, but replying opens the door to several risks, such as:
- Confirmation of active number: If your child replies, they are acknowledging that the number is active. This means scammers will continue to use it in the future. Scammers also sell active numbers on the dark web or use them for other malicious purposes.
- Personal information exposure: Talking to the scammer can make your child withdraw money or share their data accidentally. Criminals are masters at leading people into giving out details in the conversation. By the time your child realizes this, it may already be too late.
- Malware links: As mentioned earlier, scammers can send dangerous links which may lead to the downloading of dangerous viruses and programs. It can then be used for stealing data, spying on the activity or locking the device. They will then ask the owners for a specific amount of money to recover their accounts.
Your child must learn not to respond or even block such messages as this is the safest thing they can do.
Should I block a scammer on WhatsApp?
Absolutely. If your goal is to keep your child safe from scam calls, then reporting the number and blocking it would be the best solution. When you block someone on WhatsApp:
- They can no longer contact you: The scammer will not have access to messaging or calling your child again.
- Prevents escalation: Blocking prevents someone from contacting your child. They can no longer extort them and obtain their personal information.
- Protects mental health: Interacting with scammers is always a stressful situation. Blocking them will decrease your child’s anxiety and make the internet environment safer for them.
How to avoid WhatsApp scams for your teens?
Here are some practical steps you can take to help your teen stay safe:
- Teach awareness: Ensure that your teen has enough knowledge of what scams are and the dangers associated with them.
- Encourage caution: Tell your child to be wary of messages received from unknown numbers. If anything looks out of place, they should always consult you before interacting.
- Enable two-step verification: WhatsApp has a two-step verification feature in the provision to make accounts more secure. This involves using a PIN when entering a phone number to sign up with WhatsApp so that the account cannot be easily seized by fraudsters.
- Monitor online activity: You should also be keen on which people your child is associating with online. Remind them to only add anyone that they know in the real world.
- Install parental controls: Free applications like FlashGet Kids can help you learn who your child is speaking to on WhatsApp and place some restrictions. These apps give you the possibility to set communication limitations and ban harmful materials. FlashGet Kids stands out among such parental control apps with its plethora of premium and free features.
Bonus: Is it safe for teens to use WhatsApp with a stranger?
It is rather dangerous to let teens use WhatsApp to communicate with strangers. Here’s why:
- Scams and fraud: Your teen should know that not everyone they chat with on WhatsApp can be trusted. They may be dealing with catfish or fake people who evaluate and manipulate them for their own gains.
- Online predators: Child predators utilize social applications including WhatsApp to build up a rapport with teenagers. They gain confidence gradually and manipulate the teens for their benefit.
- Exposure to inappropriate content: Your child could receive lewd and explicit messages from strangers. This could emotionally affect them and cause mischief.
In general, teens are advised not to talk to strangers. Teach your child to discuss any unknown person with you who has been contacting them lately.
Conclusion
Telecommunication is convenient now and has opened many new opportunities for people. At the same time, threats are connected with scammers who seek to cheat users. If you teach your child about how scams work and steer them in the right direction, they can be protected. Just make sure to tell your teen that if anything looks or feels even a little fishy, just ignore it, put the sender on the block list, and talk to you about it. Parental control apps like FlashGet Kids can also be of great help to monitor your child’s activities. It offers features like live monitoring, screen mirroring, screen time, app blocker and daily usage. These remarkable features make it a no-brainer to use this app and take full advantage of it.
