LDP Warns Public Of New WhatsApp Scam
There is no such thing as a 'free lunch'.
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has warned the public to be wary of a new scam tactic on WhatsApp
Image via The Borneo Post
The scam involves scammers hacking into victims' WhatsApp accounts and luring them with a generous reward of commissions.
LDP Chief Publicity Officer Simon Chin said the idea of earning generous rewards without putting in the effort is unfounded.
He urged the public to be cautious and not to become targets of such fraudulent schemes.
Chin shared that he was recently added to a WhatsApp group called "YouTube-Support Program03"
Image via The Borneo Post
In the group, the administrator discouraged members from leaving and presented a program purportedly affiliated with YouTube.
The administrator claimed that individuals could generate daily income by subscribing to YouTube channels, claiming that no fees are involved.
The individual attempted to legitimise the scam by sharing a picture of the commission rate and a bank-in slip. The commission rate indicated that participants could earn a minimum of RM168 per day, or RM5,000 per month.
Chin promptly contacted his friend, who told him that his WhatsApp account had been compromised
Chin explained that he was unable to use WhatsApp on his device, and the hacker had included all of his contacts in the fraudulent WhatsApp group.
According to some of the victims, users were added to a platform called "Task Manager" and assigned tasks after accepting an invitation to join the scheme
Image via charlesdeluvio/Unsplash
Victims were asked to 'like' certain YouTube channels and provide screenshots to the supposed 'Manager'. The accumulated earnings from these 'likes' were promised to be shown on a 'Work Sheet', but participants reported never receiving any actual money.
They were then told to share their bank details to supposedly access their earnings. After the victims transferred money or divulged their bank information, the scammers proceeded to steal money from their accounts.
Here's how you can avoid falling victim to a scam:
1. Conduct your due diligence.
Chin advised the public to diligently research any company, employer, or recruitment officer mentioned in such invitations.
Perform a quick background check on the company. In fact, a simple Google search should suffice.
2. Verify with your friend.
If you have been added to a WhatsApp group by your 'friend', drop them a message to verify if they actually added you to the WhatsApp group.
3. Do not share your bank account details.
Do not, under any circumstances, disclose your bank account details to anyone, regardless of how trustworthy they may seem.
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