Hi I’m Wynand
WhatsApp Scams. Yes, it is happening.
Just when we managed to have our scam detectors calibrated for email, “they” are now getting us on WhatsApp.
Simple formula, get your number.
Unsolicited contact.
Promossing you a freelance opportunity.
Just had the conversation. Phone number is from India (note: nothing against the country I love Virat and Sachin was one of my all-time heroes), with a male profile pick. Introduce “himself” or “herself” as Anne Wilson from Travel Media Group, promising me R1000 per day doing digital marketing jobs and all I need to do is join their private WhatsApp group.
Problem is…
They contacted me a few months ago as well.
Asked me for a lot of personal information.
Had a short chat with Anne who looks like a dude, but hey it is a new world after all.
Asked where they got my number, here is his answer:
By using cookies and geofencing, we gathered online connections at random from social media sites depending on the locations and interests.We are not personally acquainted with you, instead, we used an online random selection tool to gather data for this job..
Anne Wilson from Travel Media Group (Don’t think it is a real Anne)
When I asked for the full name, I got this Image:
So it is Anne
However, this is the WhatsApp Scam profile
Hmmmm….not Anne
Anyhow, this is my attempt to play detective.
But I can see a difference.
So if you are the real Anne Wilson and your image was also hacked you are more than welcome to contact me and I will gladly remove your image. If you are Anne Wilson and you really contacted me via WhatsApp from an Indian number I would love to know what gives you the right to contact me without any permission.
After a few questions like where did you get my info, why you contacting me from India, but the company Travel Media Group is in the US, why not give me a website to check out the offer and why join some weird Facebook group directly, the person stopped answering my questions.
Life is hard enough.
We don’t need fake WhatsApp scams.
So beware good peeps.
Till we chat again.