Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 3:23 p.m.
Whaling, a scam that aims to play on the emotions of the victims, is in full swing, warns the FPS Economy on Thursday. The Antwerp public prosecutor’s office said Wednesday to see an increase in this type of scam. The crooks pose as someone you know to trick you into depositing money into their bank account number.
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The severe contact restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus have exploded this type of scam. Extreme vigilance is therefore required, says the FPS Economy.
Whaling is not a recent phenomenon, further specifies the SPF. “However, it has grown in recent years through instant messaging like Facebook, Messenger or WhatsApp. Previously, these crooks mainly proceeded by email, ”he emphasizes.
The Federal Public Service Economy warns that crooks can generally hack the account of one of your relatives or create a copy of it – by taking photos or data from the real account, for example – and send you a message asking money.
The FPS Economy advises to call the ‘old’ number of your contact which is in your directory and to ask if he is actually having financial problems, but also never to pay money until you have could contact your acquaintance by another means.
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