WhatsApp
users across the world are being targeted by cyber scammers who are
circulating fake messages inviting users to test the new calling feature
that fills the phone with dangerous malware.
According
to the Daily Star, if users click on the link, they are taken to
another website where they are asked to take a survey on behalf of the
popular messaging service.
However, the survey forces people to download applications and software that might contain dangerous malware.
WhatsApp has not announced the calling feature officially. However, some users claim to have used it.
WhatsApp
calling feature is one which is eagerly being looked forward to by
everyone. We have read news about how WhatsApp is testing this feature
in India. Also WhatsApp had activated the invite-feature for some users
for a short period of time last month, so those users can still use
WhatsApp calling feature. It has however, not been officially rolled
out. By that limited time invite method, a person could activate their
friends’ WhatsApp calling feature by giving them a call via WhatsApp.
This feature has since been disabled.
It
seems like WhatsApp has become a hotbed for cyber scammers. Back in
January, one of our team members had got a random message with a contact
card to call a certain ‘Diya’, whose number gave an Ivory Coast
address. Using pictures of women and sending spam links on social media
is a fairly tried and tested method of ensuring chaos on the Internet.
Very often gullible users tend to fall for such scams and might even go
on to add such a person on WhatsApp, which is dangerous as this person
could try and get personal information such as bank account details,
email passwords by trying to be friends them.
Back
in 2012, another message was doing the rounds which promised lifetime
free WhatsApp usage provided the user sent a message to 10 other friends
and so on.
Posted by : Gizmeon
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