Scam Alert: How Fraudsters Are Exploiting WhatsApp Group Chats and What You Need to Know to Stay Safe

WhatsApp group chat members are being warned criminals could target them, as Action Fraud has received 636 reports from victims of the messaging app in the first six months of 2024.

In this scam, a fraudster joins a group chat, posing as a genuine member using a fake profile picture and name. They reach out to another group member by making an audio call, pretending to be someone familiar to the group. Once they've established this false sense of trust, they claim they need a one-time passcode to join an upcoming video call for the group.

Believing this to be a legitimate request, the victim shares the code, not realizing it allows the scammer to register their WhatsApp account on a new device.

Once the fraudster can access the victim's WhatsApp account, they activate two-step verification, locking the real owner out. The scammer then messages other group members, friends, or family, pretending to need money and exploiting the victim's contacts for financial gain.

"With more than 630 reports already this year, we are urging users, and in particular those in big group chats on WhatsApp, to be on their guard and monitor who joins the chats, said Detective Superintendent Gary Miles, Head of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau at the City of London Police.

According to Action Fraud data, reports suggest the top three most frequently impacted group chat types are Islamic religious groups (63), Christian religious groups (56), and work chats (50).

Related: How scammers gain access and hack your WhatsApp account and what you can do to protect yourself

Other scams targeting WhatsApp group chats:

1.     Phishing Scams: Scammers may join a group chat pretending to be a trusted source, such as a company or service provider. They often send links to fake websites that ask for personal information or login credentials, which they use for identity theft or unauthorized access.

2.     Investment Frauds: Fraudsters may present themselves as financial advisors or representatives of investment schemes within a group chat. They promote fake investment opportunities, promising high returns with minimal risk, and eventually ask for money to invest in these non-existent ventures.

3.     Prize and Giveaway Scams: Scammers may claim that a group member has won a prize or giveaway but need to pay a fee or provide personal information to claim it. Often, these prizes do not exist, and the scammers simply use this as a way to collect money or sensitive data.

4.     Impersonation Scams: Scammers may impersonate a high-profile individual or a person known within the group. They might use this guise to solicit money or personal information under the pretense of a charitable cause or urgent need.

Related: Help your child, not a scammer. Everything you need to know about the "Hi mum, Hi dad" scam on WhatsApp

5.     Job Offer Scams: In job-related group chats, scammers may offer fake job opportunities and ask for personal details or upfront payments for training materials or application fees. Once they have this information, they can use it for identity theft or disappear with the money.

6.     Blackmail or Extortion: Scammers may threaten to release compromising information or images unless the victim pays a sum of money. They often gather such information through deceptive interactions or by hacking accounts.

Related: The 7 most common WhatsApp scams and how to avoid them

How to Protect Yourself

• Enable Two-Step Verification: Add an extra layer of security by going to Settings > Account > Two-step verification > Enable.
• Verify Requests: If you get an unusual request from a friend or group member, call them directly (outside WhatsApp) to confirm their identity.
• Check messages with Scamio. If you receive a suspicious message, check it with Scamio, our AI-powered scam detection tool. Send any texts, messages, links, QR codes, or images to Scamio, which will analyze them to determine if they are part of a scam. Scamio is free and available on Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and your web browser. You can also help others stay safe by sharing Scamio with them in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, Australia, and the UK.
• Report and Block: Report suspicious messages and block the sender. Press and hold the message, select 'Report,' and follow the instructions.

In the UK, you can report WhatsApp scams to Action Fraud by visiting their website at www.actionfraud.police.uk or calling 0300 123 2040. In the US, report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through their website at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov, or you can contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. Reporting these incidents helps authorities track and combat fraud more effectively.