You may have noticed that scammers like to use WhatsApp and Telegram in their scams. This is because it is easier to conduct scams and not get caught when using these apps. But why exactly is this happening? What makes them different from other messaging apps?
This is why scammers love to use WhatsApp and Telegram for scams!
It is easier to manage victims on one platform.
Believe it or not, you’re not the only one receiving these messages and scams. These criminals often send spam to multiple targets, spreading their net far and wide in the hopes of catching as many people as possible.
Once the connection is established, scammers prefer to continue their deception on instant messaging platforms. This allows them to closely monitor the conversation, hence the prevalence of WhatsApp redirect email scams or job application scams that conduct “interviews” on Telegram.
In fact, this is exactly what is happening with the newest scheme that uses the name CUF Clinics.
The call comes from a mobile number that you won’t recognize at first. When you answer, you hear a voice recording that says that CUF clinics are hiring. At that point they tell you that it’s a job that can earn you between 500 and 700 euros a day, which immediately raises suspicions. Another big warning is that in order to apply for a job interview, you have to talk to the number that called you via WhatsApp. This is something that CUF will never do, and in fact no major company is hiring.
Then there’s another equally bizarre factor that only serves to ensure that the victim actually subscribes to the WhatsApp number. For trying to apply for the job, you get seven euros on the spot. And that’s without you having to do anything else. In other words, all sorts of bizarre behavior.
The call is received in Portuguese and with a very reliable voice. However, it is generated by artificial intelligence.
Of course, in practice things will not be so simple, and when you add the person who contacted you on WhatsApp, they will try to trick you using the most diverse schemes. The first thing they do, being a supposed interview, is to get their hands on your personal data. Then you will eventually have to make some payments to cover administrative expenses. From now on, anything can happen, but to avoid any problems, do not even add the number in question on WhatsApp.
In these schemes, many scammers work in groups and may have a dedicated person (or team) to manage WhatsApp and Telegram text messages. It can be described as a dedicated “scam texting department,” so to speak.
Provide anonymity and encryption
WhatsApp and Telegram don’t require much information to create an account. All you need is a verifiable phone number from any country. Unfortunately, SIM cards and their associated phone numbers are easy to obtain through third-party services and unscrupulous network providers. Therefore, it’s easy for foreign scammers to pretend to be people from the same country as the user.
Furthermore, unlike Facebook, Instagram, or X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp and Telegram don’t require you to have a profile that people can refer to to track your activity over time. Therefore, it’s easier to maintain your anonymity and appear trustworthy, as neither app is designed to create a public online presence. They’re primarily meant for messaging people you already know.
Both WhatsApp and Telegram are enhancing anonymity by allowing users to enable disappearing messages. This means that scammers can tell us all sorts of things in these apps, and we can come back later and see that they’ve all disappeared from our devices, leaving us with no evidence.
By the way, there is a way to save disappearing messages on WhatsApp. You can use it to track conversations that you suspect are scams.
End-to-end encryption
Additionally, if law enforcement gets involved and tries to intercept criminal activity, end-to-end encryption on both systems (which is typically used to protect users' privacy) also protects the scammers from law enforcement.
However, regular Telegram chats are not end-to-end encrypted and are technically accessible via Telegram servers. Regardless, you can still use the protection feature.
Remember that WhatsApp and Telegram aren’t bad in and of themselves. Many of the features that make them so attractive to scammers are designed to make the apps easier to use and protect your privacy. So, if you see suspicious conversations online heading towards either of these apps, it’s likely a scam and you should stop as soon as possible.
Now you know why scammers love WhatsApp and Telegram.
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