The WhatsApp video call scam is a type of scam where criminals try to access your personal information and steal money by calling you on WhatsApp and manipulating you into believing you need to share sensitive information. This scam takes advantage of the popular video calling feature on WhatsApp.
How does the WhatsApp video call scam work?
The scam typically starts with you receiving an unexpected WhatsApp video call from an unknown international number. If you answer, the caller will hang up immediately. You may not think much of it at first. But then you will receive another WhatsApp video call minutes later. At this point, curiosity may get the better of you and you answer the second video call. The scammer will likely pretend to be a family member or friend who has supposedly lost their phone and is trying to reach you from a new number.
The scam relies on taking advantage of your curiosity about the unknown caller and desire to help someone you care about. The scammer will ask you to send them money or share sensitive personal information that they can use to access your bank accounts, steal your identity, or sell your details on the dark web. This information may include:
- Your full name
- Date of birth
- Home address
- Bank account details
- Credit card numbers
- Passwords
- PINs
This scam preys on your kindness, desire to help loved ones, and tendency to trust the people already in your WhatsApp contacts. The criminals are counting on you letting your guard down when receiving a video call from someone you know on WhatsApp.
Who is behind the WhatsApp video call scam?
Cybercriminals operating all over the world perpetrate the WhatsApp video call scam. Many scammers originate from countries with lax cybercrime laws where it is easy to acquire phone numbers from abroad to spoof on caller ID. West African criminal networks are major players in this type of scam.
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly who is behind this scam because cybercriminals go to great lengths to hide their identity and location. They often route their internet connections through VPNs and use temporary phone numbers that are untraceable. Organized crime rings operate this scam efficiently at scale, with different people playing specialized roles in acquiring phone numbers, making calls, and collecting money.
What countries are most affected by the WhatsApp scam?
This scam predominantly targets WhatsApp users in wealthy, English-speaking countries like:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Australia
- Ireland
However, as WhatsApp’s popularity continues growing, more countries are reporting cases of the WhatsApp video call scam.
| Country | WhatsApp Users |
|---|---|
| India | 400 million |
| Brazil | 120 million |
| Indonesia | 100 million |
| Mexico | 85 million |
| Russia | 84 million |
Any country with high WhatsApp usage can become a target. Technological advancements also make cross-border scams easier to run remotely.
Why is the WhatsApp video call scam so effective?
This scam is highly effective for several reasons:
- Trust – WhatsApp is used primarily to message trusted contacts. You let your guard down more easily receiving a call from a known friend’s number.
- Unsolicited – The unexpected, repeated calls spark curiosity, especially upon seeing a friend’s ID.
- Urgency – The scammer creates urgency by pretending to be someone needing immediate help after losing their phone.
- Fear – The threat of a friend being stranded elicits fear and a desire to act quickly.
- Reciprocity – You feel obligated to return a favor after the scammer pretends to be someone who has helped you in the past.
The WhatsApp video call scam also exploits vulnerabilities in human psychology. The scam triggers emotional responses that bypass logical reasoning. This leads people to share sensitive details without thinking them through first.
How can you avoid the WhatsApp video call scam?
Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of the WhatsApp scam:
- Be wary of any international calls from unknown numbers. Let unknown calls go to voicemail.
- Never pick up video calls from strangers. Ask them to message you first to verify their identity.
- Set your WhatsApp settings to only allow calls from contacts.
- Turn on WhatsApp two-factor authentication for extra security.
- Be skeptical of any calls asking for sensitive information like passwords or bank details. Legitimate businesses will never ask for this over a call.
- Listen to your instincts. If a call seems suspicious or makes you uncomfortable, hang up.
- Avoid clicking on any links sent by unknown contacts.
- Report suspicious calls to WhatsApp directly so they can block phone numbers.
Exercising caution goes a long way in protecting yourself from scams. If a call does not feel right, don’t share any information and disconnect immediately.
What should you do if you fall victim to the WhatsApp scam?
If you already shared sensitive information or transferred money to scammers, take these steps immediately:
- Contact your bank to freeze accounts and reverse any fraudulent transactions.
- Report the scam to local law enforcement.
- Change all passwords for banking, email, social media and other accounts.
- Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
- Inform contacts who may have received messages from the scammers pretending to be you.
- Watch for any signs of identity theft and request credit reports to check for fraud.
- Block the phone number that called you.
- Report the scam call in WhatsApp settings.
Taking swift action helps limit damages from the scam. Be proactive about monitoring accounts and credit reports closely in the coming months.
How can WhatsApp improve security against this scam?
While users should exercise caution, WhatsApp also needs robust security measures to stop this scam. WhatsApp can improve protection through:
- Detecting and blocking suspicious international numbers more aggressively.
- Creating fingerprint profiles of known scammer behaviors.
- Limiting message forwarding to reduce scam spread.
- Making two-factor authentication mandatory.
- Using call pattern analysis to identify scam calls.
- Allowing users to opt out of video calls from strangers.
- Increasing visibility of report spam features.
WhatsApp will need to continually strengthen security and identify new scam tactics as criminals find ways to bypass protections.
Conclusion
The WhatsApp video call scam predominantly targets kindness and curiosity to manipulate victims into sharing personal details that can enable identity theft and financial fraud. While users should exercise extreme caution around unknown callers, WhatsApp also bears responsibility for building advanced security capabilities to detect and block scams on their platform. With proper precautions, users can avoid becoming victims of this invasive scam.