BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Regional Security System (RSS) is urging residents across the region to remain vigilant as a new WhatsApp scam spreads, with scammers requesting funds under false pretenses.
In recent weeks, residents of the Federation have been on high alert due to similar scams, with even law enforcement personnel falling victim to these fraudulent activities.
“The popularly utilised WhatsApp application has recently been the target of numerous nefarious activities which have severely impacted persons who rely on the platform for communication,” the RSS stated in a media release.
Scammers have been contacting individuals from various phone numbers, requesting that the recipients share a code, enabling the scammers to gain access to their WhatsApp accounts. Once access is gained, the scammers send messages to the victim’s contacts, requesting money.
Journalist Jermine Abel, who has been investigating social media scams within the Federation, shared his experiences of receiving calls from phone numbers originating in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Africa These calls requested verification codes that appear as text messages for WhatsApp.
“Because I have been investigating and reporting on these matters, it was quick for me to pick up on the scams,” Abel explained. “I have been publishing reports of this nature for the past three to four years, and I do hope that residents in the Federation take note and keep abreast of what is being reported on.”
He further highlighted that these scams often involve phishing links, fake relationships, or bogus prize winnings.
In its statement, the RSS acknowledged the alarming rise of such scams across the region, noting, “The alarming trend, which has emerged across the region, has not gone unnoticed by officials of the Regional Security System (RSS) Headquarters, who are working diligently to ensure that citizens of its Member States do not fall victim to the emerging scam.”
The RSS’s Asset Recovery Unit (ARU) has called on WhatsApp users to remain cautious and exercise vigilance when using the platform.
The statement warned, “Over the past few weeks, unsuspecting victims have received WhatsApp messages from unknown numbers, or numbers purporting to be a WhatsApp support representative, requesting a code received via SMS be sent to the contacting number. Users are made to believe that the code is required to verify their WhatsApp account. Once this is done, the hackers gain access and control of the victim’s account.”
The statement explained that the hackers use the target's number to send messages to persons in their contact list, requesting money be sent to them via a money remitter. They claim to be stranded overseas and in need of funds to pay for a hotel or to buy an airline ticket. Furthermore, the offenders have also been sending links or codes to these contacts, as a means of soliciting more victims.
While several persons have been inconvenienced, officials at the RSS ARU have given the assurance that there are steps which persons can take to significantly reduce the risk of falling prey to these criminal actors.
Users should:
Follow the recommended steps to verify requests;
Protect your personal information;
Be cautious with verification codes;
Report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement agencies;
Enable two-factor authentication on WhatsApp.
