WhatsApp Launches ‘STOP. THINK. CALL.’ Campaign to Stamp Out Message-Based Scams
Colleagues may wish to be aware that WhatsApp recently launched STOP. THINK. CALL., in partnership with the National Trading Standards’ Friends Against Scams campaign. The campaign aims to help educate the British public on how to protect themselves and their WhatsApp account from message-based scams.
Almost three-fifths of the public (59%) say they have received a message-based scam in the last year – or know someone who has. According to recent research, these types of scam messages have been sent both via SMS text message (46%), or WhatsApp (13%), and unfortunately appear to be increasingly common.
WhatsApp wants to make sure that people understand how they can protect themselves, so has enlisted a ‘Scambassador’, Joel Dommett, once a victim of a scam himself, to help share some simple advice that can keep people safe.
WhatsApp, Friends Against Scams and Joel Dommett are calling on the British public to STOP. THINK. CALL. before they respond to a suspicious or unusual message.
- STOP: Take Five before you respond. Make sure your WhatsApp two-step verification is switched on to protect your account; that you’re happy with your privacy settings; and your six-digit pin is secure.
- THINK: Does this request make sense? Are they asking you to share a PIN code that they have had sent to you? Are they asking for money? Remember that scammers prey on people’s kindness, trust and willingness to help.
- CALL: Verify that it really is your friend or family member by calling them directly, or asking them to share a voice note.Only when you’re 100% sure the request is from someone you know and trust, should you consider it. If it turns out to be untrue, report It to Action Fraud.