I’m a WhatsApp Expert – The 3 Dangerous Warning Signs You Should Delete an SMS Immediately

WHATSAPP is a prime target for crooks – therefore, recognizing the warning signs of dangerous text can help you stay safe.

Even messages that appear to come from friends or family can be a sinister trap.

So you have to be careful when someone asks for personal information.

We spoke to cyber experts who uncovered the telltale signs of a WhatsApp scam.

And texts from unknown numbers can be one of the biggest clues.

“Scam messages often come from unknown numbers. If you keep a proper contact list, they’re easier to spot,” Brian Higgins, security specialist at Comparitech, told The Sun.

“They also masquerade as official news, such as offering tech support to solve problems you probably didn’t know you had or telling you you’ve won a prize.

“Always make sure you’re using the latest version of any platform, and you can safely delete the first one.

“Then think about how many times in your life you’ve won an award for no reason and can get rid of the second as well.

“Try to think before you click and don’t let the FOMO scare you off the ‘delete’ button.

If you are a regular WhatsApp user, you must be on high alert.

WhatsApp has more than 2 billion users and as such it is often targeted by crooks.

We spoke to cyber expert Tom Davidson to get his three top tips for spotting scams on WhatsApp from Meta.

Here’s what Tom, a senior director at security firm Lookout, told The Sun…

Tom’s three WhatsApp alerts

Here’s what to look out for:

Hint #1

Messages from unknown contacts trying to get you to interact, especially when the spelling or grammar seems wrong.

The same applies to messages from known contacts that sound different than usual.

Hint #2

Messages with unsolicited offers such as free giveaways, sweepstakes, or discounts, even if they appear to be from a legitimate brand, and especially when they ask you to provide personal information.

Hint #3

Any messages that contain clickable links that you weren’t expecting.

To be on the safe side, you can enter the link manually in another browser.

Attackers can use special characters in the message to disguise a malicious link that at first glance looks like a well-known or legitimate website.

Stay safe on WhatsApp

There are some other important safety tips you can take advantage of.

The first is to make sure you keep your phone and apps up to date with the latest software patches.

These updates often contain important security fixes that eliminate bugs used by hackers to target your device.

And you should also generally be cautious when someone asks for personal information (like credit card details or sign-up codes), even if the text message appears to be from a friend.

If a hacker gains access to your WhatsApp account, you can kick them out by logging in again.

Selected image source: WhatsApp / Unsplash / The Sun

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