Criminals keep coming up with new evil tricks. So also this scam via WhatsApp. Some victims have already lost large sums of money.
This scam is actually not entirely new. But it’s still happening and many people still fall for it. That is why the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office is once again warning against this evil trick.
“This is my new mobile number”
The victims received this message via WhatsApp. Criminals use it to attempt to convince users that they are friends or family members. The trick is always the same.
The perpetrators write to the victims with an unknown number. Most of the time they tell you that the sim card or mobile is broken that’s why they have a new number. Criminals are very creative. They keep making up new stories. The messages often sound relatively personal and even plausible. Cybercriminals hope recipients will believe them, save the new number, and get back to you.
If victims respond to this scam, the perpetrators have taken the first important step. They send another message to the victims. In it they ask for money because there are problems with online banking due to the new phone number. They also promise to remit the money promptly.
If the recipients follow the WhatsApp message request, the drama takes its course. “Anyone who complies with this unchecked request has usually transferred several hundred or even thousands of euros to unknown persons,” warns the LKA.
Those affected should do it
Anyone who has transferred money and notices this should inform the bank as soon as possible and ask them to stop the transfer. According to the LKA, a quick reaction is crucial. Because after a few hours it’s probably already too late.
Victims can also file a police report. A screenshot of the WhatsApp conversation is useful for this. However, there is usually no money back. According to the LKA, this possibility is very small. Because the transfers can no longer be interrupted after a short time. Also, most of the scammers’ receiving accounts are not located in Germany. This makes tracking and reimbursement difficult.
