It’s a tempting scam to believe, but you didn’t win $500 for doing nothing. Unless you directly entered a contest that you know isn’t fraudulent, it’s a scam. If the messaging app you are using does not have contact details for a customer service representative, consult other users for a report on typical behavior. If you are unsure if a request is legitimate or not, you can always go to the WhatsApp website and send an email to a customer service representative.

In general, WhatsApp (and legitimate apps) do not randomly solicit personal information. Beware of messages soliciting personal information This isn’t something WhatsApp ever does, so if you see a convincing direct message from the app itself, know that it’s probably fake. As WhatsApp states on its website, “we do not use WhatsApp to contact you.” 2.

One clear giveaway that you’re being targeted for a scam is when WhatsApp directly contacts you through the app for any reason. Be skeptical of any message from WhatsApp Just consider the following information to prevent yourself from being a victim of a scam: 1. WhatsApp enables people from around the world to communicate with each other for free, and that’s powerful. WhatsApp scams are prevalent, but that shouldn’t scare you away from using this useful and fun application. These scammers are likely trying to raise the value of the stock in what’s called a “pump and dump” - raising the value so they can pull out their investments at a peak price. The message, which often recommends people to invest in Avra Inc., claims that the stock will double or triple in a few days. Scammers have been promoting and recommending stocks to WhatsApp users.

This scam is just another way to steal your information, which is much more insidious than giving you false hope.

These scams come in a number of different languages as well, putting a large demographic at risk. Source: There’s a scam out there that ask you to fill out survey for a $500 Starbucks gift card, alleging that it’s sponsored by Starbucks.Ī similar scam exists for McDonald’s, IKEA, H&M, KFC, 7-Eleven, and Zara, as well as a number of other big companies.

Whatsapp scams