New WhatsApp scam uses business accounts to steal customers

A new blow from the WhatsApp uses business accounts for the theft of information from platform users. Reports of suspicious activities and scams on the social network are nothing new, but with each new era, criminals innovate their ways of robbing people.

The ball of the moment consists of using commercial accounts to apply scams, which the swindlers act as transport or delivery companies. The act gains some credibility, as the accounts are enabled via WhatsApp Business. However, it is necessary to be aware that not all companies communicate with customers via WhatsApp.

Make sure your account number is official on WhastaApp

In addition, anyone can create a “regular” business account in the app, just register as normal. However, business accounts for large companies are verified with a green seal next to the name. Furthermore, if you receive a message from a large company, like the screenshots from Mercado Livre that are in this article, the account will always be shown to you with the name of the company, and not with a cell phone number, as usually happens when an account people send you a message.

O WhatsApp Business is a tool whose main objective is to make life easier for those who need a network profile for work, but it is also of great help to brands that need to communicate with their customers. Currently the verification process cannot be requested, as in Twitter, for example. WhatsApp itself is looking for well-known companies and brands to offer the feature.

For this reason, it is necessary to be extra careful when receiving messages from supposed companies such as iFood, Rappi e Uber offering discounts or promotions, especially if you are asked to click on a link. Another way to be a victim of scams is when the company asks you to confirm personal information regarding a purchase made in a store.

Generally, the messages have a very professional and descriptive tone, informing the attendant's name, CPF, a protocol number and a well-written message, without spelling or agreement errors, as a professional brand would really do. However, more cautious matters that are handled with a customer are usually requested via trusted email or directly in the company's application. Keep an eye!

For smaller stores, which contact to confirm an order via WhatsApp, and are certainly not verified by the platform, it is worth contacting the official website and verifying that this is a standard service protocol. If you start to raise suspicions, contact the company's support, whether small, medium or large and seek more information.

How to protect yourself?

While we are all susceptible to being scammed by WhatsApp, there are a few steps we can take to be safer:

• Enable XNUMX-Step Verification in the App. That way WhatsApp will have a “double layer” of protection;
• Never share personal information with strangers;
• Always install the official WhatsApp application;
• Do not reply to or open links to suspicious conversations;
• Never share your app activation SMS code;
• Do not disclose your personal data on unknown websites.

How to report?

O WhatsApp It has state-of-the-art encryption technology, meaning that not even the company has access to its messages. For this reason, the network does not have a central for complaints, such as the Facebook and Instagram. However, you may have already noticed some options when you receive messages from an unknown number.

The app gives you the option to “Add contact”, “Report” and “Block”. If you identify the possibility that you are suffering a scam, click on the report option or click on the account profile, scroll down and select the same option. In this way, WhatsApp will start investigating suspicious behavior related to that profile. After that it is also valid to block the number as a precaution.

According to the Military Police, if the person realizes that he has been the victim of a scam, he must immediately send an email explaining the situation to the address ppgad@pucrs.br, requesting account cancellation and informing the number and country code (+55) associated with the profile. It is also of paramount importance that the victim informs all of his contacts about what has happened, so that criminals can no longer deceive people by asking for money or sending data-stealing links.

“Due to the pandemic, the population, in order to continue with social distance, started to use the messaging app even more to work, shop, study and even have fun in groups of conversations between friends online. With more time in the application, we are leaving traces such as personal information and data; which makes it easier for scammers”

Vitor Sakata, Lieutenant Colonel of the Military Police of Mato Grosso

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Sources: WhatsApp