The sophistication of online scams
Online scams are becoming more sophisticated and many people don’t know how to spot them. This is a growing concern in the digital age as fraudsters use clever tactics to trick their victims. To better understand this phenomenon, an online security expert has shared his own experience.
The expertise of an expert in online scams
The engineer known as @sabuesolinux on X, formerly Twitter, has shared a revealing thread about how scammers were trying to trick him through WhatsApp and Telegram. This real-life experience gives a detailed insight into how scammers operate and how you can avoid falling into their traps.
A communal scam
One of the most common scams online starts with a seemingly harmless WhatsApp message. This message usually comes from an unknown number and the scammers pose as recruiters for a company. They offer money in exchange for simple tasks. While it is recommended to block and ignore these messages, the expert has decided to investigate further and share the results.
The modus operandi of fraudsters
Scammers pose as members of a Warner partner company and offer money in exchange for liking content on Facebook. They first ask for personal data on WhatsApp and then divert the conversation to Telegram to receive payment. After completing this step, the expert has received the first Bizum of 5 euros. This was just the beginning of a bigger scam.
The evolving scam
After receiving the money, the expert repeated the task three times, earning a total of 15 euros. But the scam doesn’t stop there. Scammers invite the expert to a working group on Telegram and ask him to pay 60 euros to win 84. This is when the scam becomes obvious. It is important to remember that you should never pay to earn money, as this can lead to a scam.
Safety measures to protect yourself
To protect yourself from these online scams, there are several safety measures you can take. First, it’s important to keep your device software always up-to-date, as updates often include security patches to protect against vulnerabilities exploited by fraudsters. It is also recommended to use security applications that can detect and block malicious numbers and websites. These apps can provide an extra layer of protection while browsing the internet or receiving suspicious messages. Finally, it is crucial not to trust job offers that seem too good to be true, especially when they ask to be paid to work. It is always better to be cautious and avoid falling into the traps of scammers.