New instant messaging scam in Venezuela
Users of the WhatsApp platform could be victims of criminal acts when receiving fraudulent messages from known accounts
A new type of scam through the instant messaging application WhatsApp, or through text messages was launched. The scammer pretends to be someone the user knows, and who recently changed his phone number, and needs a loan to solve some emergency, pay some debt, service, or simply because the user has dollars for sale.
“Hello, it’s Maria. How are you. This is my new number, save it”, is one of the messages most used by this new network of cyber criminals when contacting their targets.
The Criminal and Scientific Investigations Department (Cicpc in Spanish) warned that scammers access a person’s contact list (a method known as phishing) and try to make them their victims. “There are people who use their social networks to carry out operations, that is not safe. Posting to a Facebook group, WhatsApp status or Instagram that you sell or exchange currencies makes you a potential victim,” explained an official and spokesman from the CICPC.
Likewise, the use of the name “María” is due to the fact that it is frequent and common in the country. However, behind it there are people between 16 and 40 years old who try to cheat someone in particular and who are manipulated by criminals. The users will be scammed after the transfer.
In this sense, the authorities call on people to alert their contacts and to file a complaint, if they are affected, as soon as possible.
Source: DOBLELLAVE
