How to detect a WhatsApp hoax

You receive a WhatsApp notification and there it is, a striking message that captures your attention in a matter of seconds, but makes you wary. The most popular communication service in the world is full of hoaxes and frauds that seek, in the worst case, to make you lose money. It is up to you to identify them to avoid danger, something that is easier if the message comes from an unknown number. Things get a little more complicated if the person who sends you the hoax is one of your contacts, with whom you usually have communication.

These fraudulent messages go viral and spread to hundreds of accounts. Although there are a large number of scams circulating through the application, experts differentiate between two types of hoaxes: those that offer functionality (new emoticons, design changes, new features), or those that seduce with various prizes (discount coupons , offers on airlines, restaurants, etc.). Clicking on them can result in subscription to messages with the relevant cost for the victim's pocket, data theft, downloading apps or signing up for other services, such as dating websites.

There are several ways to detect a WhatsApp hoax. Here are some things to keep in mind when you suspect the message.

Look at how it's written

There are messages that are suspicious from the beginning, but they are even more so if they are misspelled, with misspellings and words that do not correspond to Spanish.This is what happened some time ago with a hoax that spread like wildfire via WhatsApp. It was a job offer for Mercadona, encouraging people to enter a website to schedule an interview.

The message had typos such as “Cleaning Staff” instead of “Cleaning Staff”. However, at first glance it looked the part, with the company's seal and a complete description of salary, possible benefits and types of job offer. Therefore, whenever you receive a message that you think may be fraudulent, read carefully point by point and be suspicious if a link appears that does not lead to the official page of the company, in which they also encourage you to enter your data.

Avoid flashy messages

Cybercriminals take advantage of special dates, such as Father's Day, Christmas, Easter and others to launch false messages and try to make money.Another thing that can make you suspicious, and that you should take into account, is any type of message that tries to get your attention at all costs with phrases like: «MIIIIIRAAAA what I have for you!!!!!», «Don't miss our exclusive discounts only today», «What have you not entered this page yet?». Even worse if a link is included below the text to go directly to a website with a fraudulent questionnaire. Be aware of these types of false messages, especially in times of increased consumerism.

Check out the links

On many occasions, suspicious messages include a link to a company or media outlet. If you have doubts about its veracity, check that the URL is real. Make sure it comes from a well-known outlet or a reputable company.Of course, keep in mind that cybercriminals intend to deceive, so they copy websites that are very similar to the real ones. In this case, you have no choice but to keep an eye on the web address. Notice carefully that after the "http://" is written the name of the real company or means of communication. Check that there are no periods or hyphens between words.

Sometimes, domain identifiers appear after the classic "dot com" like a ".cc", ".biz", ".net", etc. If you get a link from a company or medium that you know ending in one of those suffixes, don't open it. For example, “mercadona.com.biz”. Be aware that this type of link can take you to a page with malicious content,created to obtain your personal data, including your credit card number.

If you have any questions, ask the issuer

If the message you received seems real, but you still have doubts, it is best to ask the sender.If you know him, you can tell him why he sent you that message and if he knows where it came from. If it is false, it is normal for him to tell you that it has also been sent to him and also to his contact. If you don't know the person who has sent you the message, and you are not convinced by the explanation he gives you (or does not answer), we recommend that you block his number and report this message to the National Police to file a complaint.

Check other media

Other ways you can find out if a WhatsApp message is false is by using your journalistic skills and investigating whether that information is in other media. Imagine that it is an offer from Vueling to fly on vacation very cheaply to a destination that interests you. The normal thing is that this same message is displayed on the company's website,or that they can inform you of it by phone.If you call and they do not know this information, there is no doubt, it is a hoax that you should bring to the attention of the National Police.

Similarly, Stopbulos on Twitter is a very active way to inform other users of fraudulent messages on WhatsApp, or discover if the one you have received has already been recorded by others users. This is another way to check.

When you discover that, indeed, the message you have received is false, it is in your power to stop its propagation and thus prevent more innocent users, or with less knowledge in the matter, from ending up being prey from the clutches of cybercriminals.