New Scam: WhatsApp Wedding Invitations Can Steal Your Money
Hackers are sending fake WhatsApp wedding invitations to deliver malware into the phones to get full access to the victims phone to scam their money & steal their identity.
Scammers are always looking for new ways to scam people and this time they are taking advantage of the ongoing wedding season. Physical wedding invitation cards have become a thing of the past now. WhatsApp wedding invitations or e-cards are the trend these days as it's convenient, environment-friendly and cost-effective. But scammers have found a way to utilise this popular trend to defraud people. The hackers create and send fake wedding invitations in APK (Android Application Package) format and send them through WhatsApp. These invitation files are filled with malware. When the receiver downloads and/or opens the invitation, the malware automatically gets downloaded and grants hackers full access to the device. Once the hacker gets full access to the device, he/she can:
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send messages for illegal & criminal activities,
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steal personal information for impersonation and/or identity fraud,
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track the victim’s GPS position,
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access personal photos, videos, & mail for blackmail, and
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transfer money from the victim's phone through UPI & Banking apps without their knowledge.
All of this can result in significant financial losses and reputational damage.
The WhatsApp Wedding Invitation Scam was first reported in Himachal Pradesh recently and the Himachal Pradesh Police has issued a public warning explaining the scam & alerting the people.
Himachal Pradesh State CID and Cyber Crime Department, DIG Mohit Chawla asked people not to click an unsolicited wedding invitation or any file from an unknown number. He advised people to always verify the sender and the file before opening/downloading anything onto their phone, especially if the invitation seems unusual or unexpected and even if it has been sent by a known or trusted contact. The victim must report the scam on helpline number 1930 or www.cybercrime.gov.in immediately and then must file a complaint in the nearest police station too. To stay safe in this digital world, one must follow 'CyberDost’ (Cyberdost4c on Instagram) channels and/or accounts on social media to stay updated and aware of various and latest scams going on around.
