The theft of WhatsApp accounts increases in Colombia: a merchant suffers the consequences

A merchant from Bogotá reported the theft of her WhatsApp account, which has left her unable to work for a month. The criminals impersonated his profile to scam his 5,000 contacts, requesting money under deception.

Colombia News

In a growing problem in Colombia, a merchant from Bogotá reports the theft of her WhatsApp account, a vital channel for her business. The woman, who works in a travel agency, stated that since the attack she has been unable to operate, telling Noticias Caracol: ““I haven’t been able to work for a month.”

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Theft of WhatsApp accounts has become a common practice among criminals, who use deceptive tactics to impersonate victims and scam their contacts. According to information from Noticias Caracol, the modus operandi involves sending a message that alerts about an alleged unauthorized access attempt, asking the victim to confirm if they are the true user.

Scammers wait for the victim to respond to the message, which results in the sending of a code that, when shared, allows them to take over the account and associated contacts. After accessing the account, the criminals begin to communicate with the victim’s contacts, requesting money under various tricks.

Martha Pinedawho became a victim of this deception, explained to the aforementioned media how it happened: “I received a message asking if I was trying to enter from an Open 16. When I answered ‘no’, they sent me a code that, unknowingly, I confirmed. Immediately, I lost access to my account and they blocked my line, while they began to scam my clients.”

The merchant, who had approximately 5,000 contacts, has seen how scammers contact her clients, posing as her to request reservations and money. “I am concerned about how many people are being deceived. I am seeking help from the authorities, but I have not received an effective response. “They have told me that this happens frequently and that I am not the only one affected,” she said.

This case alerts users to digital impersonation techniques and asks them to be alert to suspicious communications.

The director of TuBarco, Wilson Barco, experienced a similar situation but the scammers did not achieve their goal, and revealed the way in which they operate.

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