New WhatsApp scam lures would-be victims with ‘free internet’

A new WhatsApp scam impersonates the social network, and tempts victims with free internet, new research from ESET revealed on Monday.

The security firm noted in a release that some of its researchers in Latin America received a message on WhatsApp “ stating that the app was giving away 1000 GB of internet data to celebrate its anniversary“.

The URL used in the scam isn’t an official WhatsApp domain, but if clicked opens an additional page hosting a survey.

“While you would be responding to the questionnaire, the site would invite you to pass along the offer to at least 30 more people in order to qualify for the big ‘reward’. Needless to say, this is merely a way to boost the campaign’s reach,” ESET adds.

The scam offers WhatsApp users 1000GB of ‘free internet’

The scam doesn’t seem to install malware on the victim’s device, the scam does make its cash using bogus ad clicks in what is known as “click fraud”.

ESET warns that the domain used in the scam is linked to a number of others online.

This isn’t the first WhatsApp scam involving mobile or internet data you’ll see online. Late in 2018, a Twitter account scammed WhatsApp users by offering them free data.

It definitely won’t be the last either.

Feature image: Shereesa Moodley/Memeburn