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 Published Wednesday, June 24, 2020 Scam
alert on WhatsApp
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff A
new type of scam has been detected through the WhatsApp
application. Hackers have set up fake URLs
for banks and fake websites with genuine sounding
names in order to trick people into handing over
their personal information and log-in details.
Scammers were detected on WhatsApp simulating customers' department support of financial institutions, reported the Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications on Tuesday. According to the Ministry, scammers use fake websites and text messages similar to those used by banks seeking to enter into direct contact with the bank's clients. The scammers' goal is to exchange messages with people to achieve fraud. Recently a text message was detected in WhatsApp that has been shared by the users of that platform, in which loans and other types of financial services are offered. The goal of the scammers is to obtain the sensitive data of the bank's clients, such as the number of bank accounts and secret access codes to those accounts. Specialists implore people not to respond to these messages in WhatsApp. Among the main recommendations are: • Stay alert. If you receive emails or text messages from unknown senders, do not open it. Ignore it. • Never click on links shared in WhatsApp to access the bank's web pages. • Never answer calls of unknown numbers or anonymous profiles offering loans on social networks or platforms like WhatsApp. • In case of receiving messages from your bank, immediately verify with customer support department of the bank. • When in doubt, contact the bank or financial institution directly at the official phone numbers provided. • Verify on the official site of your bank for listed phone numbers. • Check that WhatsApp business accounts are official. That can be verified by checking that the name title has a green check image on the right side. • Never reply to anonymous emails or text messages from unknown contacts. • Never provide by phone or text message your bank account information. If you have doubts on a received email or text message ask the experts of the National Computer Incident Response Center by emailing at cybersecurity@micitt.go.cr If you are a victim of a scam call the Judicial Investigation Organization confidential line 800-800-0645. -------------------------- What other advice would you give people to avoid fraud through social networks or WhatsApp? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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