WhatsApp is launching a new initiative to educate people on how to protect themselves from message-based scams. In recent months, messaging ...
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| WhatsApp is launching a new initiative to educate people on how to protect themselves from message-based scams. |
Police have issued warnings about WhatsApp scams that target elderly people, often posing as family members asking for sums of money. One of the most widely reported scams in recent months saw people receiving SMS messages purporting to be Royal Mail (the UK's postal service) advising people to pay a shipping fee.
WhatsApp does its bit by protecting its users' personal messages with end-to-end encryption — it cannot see your private messages, but it must be noted that it does share your metadata with Facebook for advertising purposes. "We want to remind people that we all have a role to play in keeping our accounts safe by remaining vigilant to the threat of scammers," Kathryn Harnett, policy manager at WhatsApp, said in a statement. "We advise all users never to share their six-digit PIN code with others, not even friends or family, and recommend that all users set up two-step verification for added security."
"If you receive a suspicious message (even if you think you know who it's from), calling or requesting a voice note is the fastest and simplest way to check someone is who they say they are. A friend in need is a friend worth calling," Harnett added.
If you're worried about being targeted by scams, independent free consumer advice organisation Citizens Advice Scams Action urges people to visit their website to get help with online scams. If you've been a victim of a payment scam, you should contact your bank immediately if you've handed over your details, and you can report the incident to your local police station, to Action Fraud (for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland (for Scotland).