WhatsApp is increasingly being targeted by cybercriminals. In some regions, the police are already registering more cases of fraud than in the previous year and significantly greater damage.
This is how the grandchild trick works on WhatsApp. (Source: PB Kleve)
- WhatsApp is becoming increasingly popular among cyber criminals.
- This is shown by statistics from the police headquarters in Neubrandenburg.
- At the same time, the number of SMS fraud attempts is declining.
The packet SMS has apparently had its day. Instead, cybercriminals are now increasingly using the so-called grandchild trick on WhatsApp. Fraud attempts via WhatsApp increased significantly in 2022, according to statistics from the Neubrandenburg police headquarters.
While the police received only 23 reports of fraud via WhatsApp in the region in 2021, in the first few months of 2022 there are already 30 reports that have caused damage of 29,100 euros. In turn, SMS scam ads went from 10 to 2.
This is how the grandchild trick works
The stitch is always the same. The unknown perpetrators call their victims from an unknown number and pretend they are a relative or friend who has a new mobile phone. Then they fake an emergency situation and ask to transfer a low three-digit amount. The perpetrators usually obtain the numbers of their victims via illegal data purchases on the Darknet. Here you can check whether your number appears in a stolen data record.
The police headquarters in Neubrandenburg is not an isolated case. A keyword search in the blue light database shows that fraud attempts via WhatsApp are increasing. The portal lists police reports from agencies nationwide. If the messenger only appeared 170 times in the reports in the whole of 2021, there were already 250 reports in the first three months of 2022.
If you are contacted by an unknown number on WhatsApp, caution is advised. Also, follow these tips from the police.
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