Scammers' goals when making video calls from unknown numbers on WhatsApp
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 7:10 am
Subscribe to our Telegram channel to stay up to date with all the news and events of the Runet.In today's digital world, users often encounter situations where they receive video calls on WhatsApp from unknown numbers. When answering such calls, the interlocutor may not turn on their camera, which raises suspicions. Such actions are often associated with fraudulent schemes.
The main goal of the scammers is to confirm that the phone number belongs to a specific person. Having obtained the user's image, they can use it to create fake videos with requests for financial assistance, sent to relatives or friends of the victim. Modern technology allows scammers to generate videos on behalf of the deceived person, which makes their hong kong whatsapp number list schemes more convincing.
In addition, during a video call, scammers can display an avatar with logos of well-known organizations, such as "Gosuslugi", the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or others, to gain the victim's trust. This enhances the effect of social engineering, making the user think that the call is coming from an official source.
Examples of similar scams
In one case, scammers posing as relatives sent messages asking for urgent financial assistance. After receiving the money, it turned out that the real relatives had not made such requests.
In another case, the attackers made video calls, posing as bank or government employees, and tried to obtain users' personal data under various pretexts. The use of fake logos on avatars increased victims' trust in the callers.
How to protect yourself from such scams
Do not answer video calls from unknown numbers. If you are not expecting a call, it is better to ignore it and block the caller.
Verify the information. If the caller claims to be a friend or relative, contact them through other communication channels to confirm their identity.
Don't share personal information. Never share sensitive information such as passwords, PIN codes or bank card details over the phone or in instant messengers.
Use privacy settings. WhatsApp allows you to adjust settings to limit calls and messages from unknown numbers.
Be vigilant and careful when communicating online. Fraudsters are constantly developing new deception schemes, so it is important to remain vigilant and not fall for the tricks of fraudsters.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel to stay up to date with all the news and events of the Runet.In recent months, cases of fraud have been increasingly recorded in Russia, when criminals, posing as employees of the Russian Post, call citizens and ask them to provide a code from an SMS message, supposedly to restore access to the State Services portal. In reality, this is a classic social engineering scheme aimed at gaining access to the victim's personal information and account.
Scammers' scheme
Fraudsters call, introducing themselves as employees of the Russian Post, and begin the conversation by saying that an important postal item from the Tax Service has arrived in the person's name. After that, they ask how best to deliver the letter - by mail or by e-mail.
The main goal of the scammers is to confirm that the phone number belongs to a specific person. Having obtained the user's image, they can use it to create fake videos with requests for financial assistance, sent to relatives or friends of the victim. Modern technology allows scammers to generate videos on behalf of the deceived person, which makes their hong kong whatsapp number list schemes more convincing.
In addition, during a video call, scammers can display an avatar with logos of well-known organizations, such as "Gosuslugi", the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or others, to gain the victim's trust. This enhances the effect of social engineering, making the user think that the call is coming from an official source.
Examples of similar scams
In one case, scammers posing as relatives sent messages asking for urgent financial assistance. After receiving the money, it turned out that the real relatives had not made such requests.
In another case, the attackers made video calls, posing as bank or government employees, and tried to obtain users' personal data under various pretexts. The use of fake logos on avatars increased victims' trust in the callers.
How to protect yourself from such scams
Do not answer video calls from unknown numbers. If you are not expecting a call, it is better to ignore it and block the caller.
Verify the information. If the caller claims to be a friend or relative, contact them through other communication channels to confirm their identity.
Don't share personal information. Never share sensitive information such as passwords, PIN codes or bank card details over the phone or in instant messengers.
Use privacy settings. WhatsApp allows you to adjust settings to limit calls and messages from unknown numbers.
Be vigilant and careful when communicating online. Fraudsters are constantly developing new deception schemes, so it is important to remain vigilant and not fall for the tricks of fraudsters.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel to stay up to date with all the news and events of the Runet.In recent months, cases of fraud have been increasingly recorded in Russia, when criminals, posing as employees of the Russian Post, call citizens and ask them to provide a code from an SMS message, supposedly to restore access to the State Services portal. In reality, this is a classic social engineering scheme aimed at gaining access to the victim's personal information and account.
Scammers' scheme
Fraudsters call, introducing themselves as employees of the Russian Post, and begin the conversation by saying that an important postal item from the Tax Service has arrived in the person's name. After that, they ask how best to deliver the letter - by mail or by e-mail.