Have you ever had a message offering you a job that seemed too good to be true, perhaps with a wage that was much higher than average? The promised pay hooks you in and tempts you to do what the sender asks: add them on WhatsApp. These texts are, unfortunately, commonplace. But now, scammers have realized that people are getting wise to these messages, so they’ve leaned on a new tactic of using robocallers.
Learn about WhatsApp robocallers below, including how to spot and report them.
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The Add Me to WhatsApp Scam Explained
Scammers need ways to contact multiple people at once to maximize their chances of reaching someone who may believe their con. Robocallers are one way for malicious actors to do this. These particular Add Me to WhatsApp scams generally follow this pattern:
- The victim receives a call, usually from an automated dialer (robocaller) playing a recorded or AI voice.
- The voice will usually tell the person who picks up about a unique job offer with an unusually high pay packet.
- The recording asks the person to add them on WhatsApp to continue the conversation.
WhatsApp robocallers rely on the victim being intrigued by the job offer and high level of pay. Once the conversation moves to WhatsApp, the scammer may ask for personal information ranging from name, address, and date of birth to Social Security number. Stealing personal data in this way can lead to identity theft. Scammers may also ask for administrative fees to process a job application.
Because the interaction takes place on WhatsApp, once scammers have what they need, they can delete their messages and block the victim. It becomes very difficult to trace the scammer or recover any lost funds.
Dos and Don’ts of WhatsApp Robocallers Scams
Any call from an unknown number may be suspicious. Some smart devices now have screening technology that sends an SMS message asking the caller for the purpose of their call. If there’s a real human at the other end, they should answer this. If you get no answer, you could be dealing with a scam call.
If you take the call, red flags include long pauses before you get a response, urging you to switch to WhatsApp, and being offered pay rates that seem unrealistic.
Do:
- Take a screenshot of any messages you receive and save any voicemails the scammers leave.
- Remember as much detail as possible from the call.
- Report it via the USAGov webpage regarding scams.
- Block the number that called you.
Don’t:
- Call an unknown number back – always contact a company via the official contact details on their website.
- Add the number on WhatsApp – genuine recruiters will never ask you to do this.
- Click any links the caller sends you, whether by email or message.
Sometimes the caller may take your email address and send links to fake job postings. In many cases, clicking these links can lead to malware being installed on your computer or smart device.
What to Do if You Added a Scammer on WhatsApp
If you already added an unknown number on WhatsApp after a phone call, don’t panic. Take the following steps:
- Take screenshots of any messages in the conversation, which will make it easier to report the details of the scam.
- Block the number.
- Report the scam using the process detailed above.
- Keep the messages as evidence in case you need to report the incident to the authorities.
If you accidentally sent money or personal details, contact your bank or payment provider immediately if you made a payment. You should also report the incident to the FTC and your local police department using their non-emergency contact number to let them know what’s happened.
Stay In the Know and Beat Scammers
The more you know, the easier it is to avoid scams like WhatsApp robocallers. Sign up for Scam Alerts from Scam Detector for regular updates straight into your inbox. That way, you’re more likely to know what to do when you encounter a suspicious call, email, or message.
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