Cyber Tip: Scammers Target WhatsApp Users

  • Published
  • 436th Operations Support Squadron
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Last month, Social network giant Facebook announced the acquisition of WhatsApp for $19 Billion. If you are not already aware, WhatsApp is an application that is run on smartphone devices (ie - iPhones, Blackberrys, Androids) allowing people to send SMS (Short Message Service or text) and photographs seamlessly without paying for the additional fees that carriers charge. It has a worldwide fan base and has grown at a rate that has caught many people's attention (quicker than Facebook, GMAIL, Twitter and Skype combined in first 4 years).

All of the excitement and publicity surrounding this event makes it a great lure for cyber actors and scammers to try and take advantage of people by crafting up scenarios for victims to fall prey to. The latest attempt is an email sent to Mac and Windows users luring the victim into thinking that there is a desktop based version of the WhatsApp, when in reality there is no such thing. The victim falls prey to the scam by feeling the need to download the popular beta application, but in reality installs a Trojan which then proceeds to retrieve usernames and passwords (or other personal identifying information) that are stored in the system. Currently, the scheme is known to occur in South America, primarily Brazil, but with the popularity of this application growing, we can expect this type of scam to surface elsewhere.

Bottom line: Social media users should be knowledgeable of applications and operating systems that they run on. If you receive an email of this type, it is best to go straight to the source's website to confirm if it is indeed a legitimate program. All personnel should get educated on their favorite apps as well as educate family and friends regarding the growing cyber threats in order to counter the scammers and avoid becoming a victim.

Sources: http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgeanders/2014/02/19/facebook-justifies-19-billion-by-awe-at-whatsapp-growth/; http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgeanders/2014/02/19/facebook-justifies-19-billion-by-awe-at-whatsapp-growth/; http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-19/facebook-acquires-whatsapp-for-19-billion