\u201cOur records indicate that your WhatsApp trial service is exceeding the one-year period,\u201d it reads.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cAt the completion of your trial period your WhatsApp will no longer be able to send or receive message [sic]. To continue using WhatsApp without interuption, we need you to subscribe for any of our subscription periods.\u201d<\/p>\n
The message then provides a link to a “customer portal” where an unwitting victim can provide their bank details.<\/p>\n
Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre says the message is a clever way to dupe people but that users should be vigilant.<\/p>\n
“Long term users of WhatsApp will remember paying a 0.99p annual fee to use the messaging service. In 2016, this was scrapped by Facebook who took over running of the company after buying it for \u00a311.4bn,” the organisation said.<\/p>\n
“That means since 2016, the service has been free for every user.”<\/p>\n
It has said it will introduce less obtrusive security measures over the next six months.<\/p>\n
It goes on to say that older users of the app “could quite easily think the app has gone back to its subscription model and get caught out.”<\/p>\n
This is far from the first time this scam has appeared. Due to the popularity and widespread use of WhatsApp it frequently reappears in the hope of ensnaring new victims.<\/p>\n
WhatsApp’s response to such scams is clear, advising users on how to take action: “We always advise you to block the sender, disregard the message and delete it.”<\/p>\n
For future reference, WhatsApp says to look out for these points when you suspect a hoax:<\/p>\n
\n- The sender claims to be affiliated with WhatsApp.<\/li>\n
- The message content includes instructions to forward the message.<\/li>\n
- The message claims you can avoid punishment, like account suspension, if you forward the message.<\/li>\n
- The message content includes a reward or gift from WhatsApp or another person.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
You can block any sender you suspect of sending you a hoax message.<\/p>\n
Open the conversation and press the “Block” option and they will no longer be able to message or call you from that account.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: Mirror<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A familiar\u00a0WhatsApp scam has reappeared\u00a0in order to try and trick people into supplying their bank details to cyber criminals. The scam takes the form of an official-looking message that warns people their “trial service” of the popular instant messaging app is coming to an end. \u201cOur records indicate that your WhatsApp trial service is exceeding […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[106],"tags":[1173],"yoast_head":"\n
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