Fraud alert! Beware of ‘Hi Mum’ message on WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a well-liked social media app with greater than 2 billion customers worldwide. The platform permits customers to attach with their household and buddies, ship or obtain funds and extra. While WhatsApp has been working to carry down the variety of scams, fraudsters maintain discovering methods to dupe harmless folks.

A brand new rip-off known as the Hi Mum or household impersonation rip-off is buzzing round that has precipitated many customers in Australia to lose $7 million or greater than ₹57 crore in 2022, reviews The Independent. The variety of victims of the rip-off elevated tenfold prior to now three months, in accordance with the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC).

How does the Hi Mum rip-off work?

The rip-off begins with the sufferer receiving a message on WhatsApp from the scamsters posing as a member of the family or a pal claiming that they’ve misplaced or broken their telephone. Once they’ve earned the sufferer’s belief, they’ll say that they need assistance which normally is the monetary one. Victim then sends cash to them pondering they’re serving to their son/daughter. But in actuality they’re being cheated by the scammer.

While, there have been no reviews of the rip-off in India, it’s advisable to observe warning when contacted by somebody through telephone or message. Always, double examine the particular person’s identification earlier than sending them cash. Here are some suggestions that may provide help to keep away from falling victims to on-line frauds:

– Keep your social media profile non-public

– Do not share your private cellular numbers of internet sites you don’t belief

– Do not share your OTP with anybody

– Do no share your financial institution card particulars like PIN and CVV with others

– Shop from dependable and safe web sites solely

– Access web through secure browsers

– Do not reply calls from unknown numbers that you simply discover suspicious

– Keep your smartphone and laptops updated with newest firmware updates

– Do not click on on URLs shared by unknown contacts on WhatsApp

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