WhatsApp Fraud Mode Is Getting More Sophisticated, These Are The Easily Recognizable Characteristics
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Cyber fraud is getting more sophisticated over time. They utilize various platforms to get what they want, including draining their victims’ accounts.
One platform that is often used as a place for fraud is WhatsApp. The mode that is often encountered is like phishing, but replaced by sending APK files.
The fraudsters will send messages with APK files randomly to various cellphone numbers. The goal is for the recipient of the chat to click and open the file. They unknowingly install a malicious application on their cellphone. The fraudsters will gain access to their victim’s cellphone. The messages sent can contain anything, from package delivery, traffic tickets, or wedding invitations. Here is a summary of the fraud modes that are often encountered on WhatsApp:
- Courier Mode
The fraudsters will claim to be from a certain shipping company and send a file in APK format. They will write the file with the words ‘View Package Photo’.However, when the file is downloaded, the victims will lose various data on their cellphones. Including money stored in the bank.
2. Wedding Invitation
This method went viral some time ago. Several people received a message with an APK file called a wedding invitation.
The invitation came from an unknown person with the title Digital Wedding Invitation Letter measuring 6.6 mb. The fraudsters invited their victims to open the file to check its truth by opening the file.
3. Fake Traffic Ticket
Another method that was also widely discussed related to the sending of fake traffic tickets. Several people received an apk file containing Traffic Ticket 1.0 apk.
“BEWARE! Be careful of fraud using the mode of sending traffic tickets via WhatsApp like this. Never click/download files with the extension “.apk” from unknown people on your gadget,” tweeted the account @MurtadhaOne1.4. Cite MyTelkomsel
You also need to be vigilant if you receive a message claiming to be from MyTelkomsel, an application owned by the operator Telkomsel. The apk file will be sent and the user is asked to download it.
After being downloaded, the application will ask for access permission to a number of applications. Including photos, videos, SMS, and digital trading services.
4. MyTelkomsel Catut
You also need to be vigilant if you receive a message claiming to be from MyTelkomsel, an application owned by the operator Telkomsel. An apk file will be sent and the user will be asked to download it.Once downloaded, the application will request access permission to a number of applications. Including photos, videos, SMS, and digital trading services.
5. Bank Announcements
Fraudsters also try to attract their victims by sending messages that appear to be announcements from the bank. The content states that there are unreasonable changes in transaction and transfer rates.WhatsApp users will be given a link containing a form to be filled in. However, the link becomes a tool to steal victims’ data.
6. Using QR codes
This method is called quishing, which is a combination of QR codes and phishing. When scanning a certain QR code, the victim will be taken to a site that can track a list of applications to the victim’s map address.
The scammers will make it difficult to detect the site visited before opening the web. Wired reports that the perpetrators will also trick someone into downloading something onto the device. The victims will then be asked to enter some login credentials.
SOURCE : CNBC INDONESIA
