With almost two billion users, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in the world. Its user-friendly design, which supports seamless phone and video calls and instant messaging, has revolutionized the way people interact. But spam and fraudulent activities have unfortunately increased along with its popularity.
The appeal of WhatsApp lies in its cross-platform flexibility and free-to-use approach. These features let users interact with anyone, regardless of the device they use. However, this has also made it simpler for marketers and spammers to bombard a broad audience with unwelcome material.
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The most common kinds of spam on WhatsApp now are marketing, advertising, and fraud messages. Currently, many companies are using automated bots to propagate their messages to a wider audience. Similarly, many people send links to shady or even harmful websites and services to random people or groups.
The latest WhatsApp international call scam
What is even more concerning is the evolving sophistication of WhatsApp scams. The days of spamming people with constant commercial messages without their permission are long gone. Instead, fraudulent calls and texts from overseas numbers are already exploiting victims.
Many have reported getting unwanted audio and video calls from strange international numbers. Surprisingly, these numbers can be traced to nations like Malaysia (+60), Kenya (+254), and Vietnam (+84). Although the intentions behind these calls are still unknown, it is believed that they are intended to defraud their listeners. Many people easily disclosed their personal information, which resulted in data theft for nefarious purposes, such as bank account theft.
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WhatsApp issues an official statement over the increase in international spam calls
After many complaints from customers, WhatsApp has recently issued an official statement. In a statement to CNBC TV 18, WhatsApp said,
We apply spam detection technology to spot and take action on accounts engaging in abnormal behavior to stop spam.
The messaging service added,
We have a grievance officer based in India who can be contacted if a user has a concern about their experience and is unable to report it through other channels. The reports detail user complaints received and the corresponding action taken by WhatsApp, as well as WhatsApp’s own preventive actions to combat abuse on the platform.
The business also announced the launch of a marketing campaign called “Stay Safe with WhatsApp.” It will inform users of the product’s built-in security features and privacy controls, such as two-step verification, block and report, and privacy controls, which serve as safeguards against online fraud, scams, and threats that could compromise users’ accounts.
While it is encouraging that WhatsApp has at last taken action, it is crucial to remember that we must also exercise caution while receiving these calls. This is because an international call’s specific origin is not always identifiable from the displayed international number alone. Some companies also provide international phone lines that can be used for WhatsApp calls. So, it might be challenging to determine the real source.
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