Once the money has been exchanged, the romantically interested partner will suddenly block the victim and become impossible to reach. All it takes to get in is a small cash deposit at a cryptocurrency trading website. He or she will also mention how a relative or friend they have met with a new lucrative opportunity. Soon after moving to WhatsApp, the scammer starts to talk about cryptocurrency. Once a relationship has been established, scammers will encourage victims to increase their connection via messaging apps, such as WhatsApp.

Dating apps are the best way to start this scam. Dating app cryptocurrency scamĪs long as someone is looking online for love, WhatsApp Dating scams are designed to exploit loneliness. You might be the victim of a scam if you get a 6-digit verification number out of the blue. They need the verification code in order to complete their deceit. This is where the scammer tries to log into the victim’s account. If someone is creating a new account, or trying to log into their account from an unfamiliar device. WhatsApp will not send a verification code to someone unless they are logged in. They will continue to inquire about the 6-digit number that the victim has just received. Verification number sent to victim’s account rather than their own. One of the messages is an apology by an alleged friend/family member who has accidentally made a mistake. The victim will receive two messages quickly in succession to confirm the scam. This scam is common because it mimics a common issue between parents and their children.Īlso read: What are Advanced Persistent Threats and How to Prevent Them Verification trick The new device means that the “son/daughter”, who is now unable to access any mobile banking apps, desperately needs funds to pay an incoming bill or other financial charges.

They also claim that they are messaging from a friend’s or replacement phone. The scammer usually pretends to be the victim’s child and claims that their phone has been damaged. It involves someone pretending that they are a relative. This is the easiest and most popular scam to commit. These are the top WhatsApp scams you should be aware of. Scammers will try to get your personal information for identity fraud purposes, install malware that could hold your device hostage, or simply try to extort your money by pretending to be someone they’re not. Many WhatsApp scammers will have similar goals and motivations.

What is whatsapp scams