euronews.com
WhatsApp Screen Mirroring Scam Steals Accounts, Demands Money
Cybercriminals use WhatsApp video calls to trick users into screen sharing, stealing accounts and demanding money via Bizum.
- What is the primary method used in this WhatsApp scam and its immediate impact?
- The scam involves initiating a WhatsApp video call, displaying a black screen, and then tricking the user into screen sharing. This action grants the hacker access to the security code, leading to immediate account theft and subsequent financial demands from the victim's contacts.
- What preventative measures and recovery steps are recommended to mitigate this scam's impact?
- Enabling two-step verification, refusing unsolicited screen-sharing requests, and never sharing received codes are crucial preventative measures. Recovery involves contacting WhatsApp support, the Data Protection Officer, and authorities if necessary, along with notifying contacts and banks.
- How do the scammers leverage the stolen accounts, and what broader implications does this have?
- After gaining control, scammers impersonate the victim and message their contacts, urgently requesting money transfers via Bizum. This highlights the potential for significant financial losses for both the account holder and their network.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a balanced view of the WhatsApp scam, detailing the mechanics of the scam and offering both preventative measures and recovery steps. The narrative focuses on factual information and user experience, avoiding sensationalism or assigning blame.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective. Terms like "cybercriminals" and "hackers" are accurate descriptions, and the article avoids overly dramatic or emotionally charged language.
Bias by Omission
While the article provides a comprehensive overview, it could benefit from including information on the prevalence of this scam and the potential financial losses incurred by victims. It also does not mention alternative methods of two-factor authentication beyond the standard WhatsApp option.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a cybercrime that undermines digital security and trust, impacting the rule of law and access to justice. Victims lose financial resources and face the inconvenience of recovering their accounts. The lack of immediate and effective recourse further exacerbates the issue.