A new scam is making rounds on whatsapp, and this time it is being known as the "profile picture rip-off"—a time period coined based totally on the way scammers operate.
The rip-off has been officially acknowledged on government-connected social media accounts.
How do the scam paintings?
WhatsApp is one of the most widely used apps on our smartphones—people use it each day for chatting, calling, video calls, and status updates. Taking advantage of this, cybercriminals have devised a smart new trick.
Here's the way it works:
Scammers ship messages on whatsapp claiming to be an acquaintance.
Their profile picture includes a photograph of your near pal or member of the family, making it look truthful.
This creates a phantasm that the message is from someone you recognize, in my view.
After you sense coziness, the scammer claims to be in a problem—typically a coincidence or emergency state of affairs.
Then comes the money request.
After triumphing over your better judgment, the scammer asks for urgent economic help, frequently mentioning they need cash for clinical treatment following an accident. Given the emotional urgency and the seeming authenticity of the profile photo, human beings panic and send money without verifying the declaration.
Thanks to rapid online transactions, these scams are pulled off fast and regularly go ignored until it's too late.
Use of Deepfake Generation
Experts have warned that scammers also are using deepfake audio to imitate the voice of your friend or member of the family. This adds another layer of deception and helps build trust without problems.
As soon as the victim is convinced, they switch the money-handiest to later recognize they have been tricked.
How to shield yourself
To keep away from falling for such scams:
Do not accept as true anything from unknown whatsapp contacts, even if their profile image consists of a person you know.
Always verify the identity—name your actual friend or family member at once.
If someone asks for cash on whatsapp, double-test via some other channel before sending any amount.
In no way act totally based on a photograph or voice clip—it could be faked.
Early caution can shield you from turning into a victim.
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