Fraudsters are increasingly using WhatsApp to prey on their victims. A new message offering free gifts to WhatsApp users has been circulating on the social messaging platform recently, causing alarm among users. The latest tactic Fraudsters are using is impersonating DMart, the Indian supermarket.

Riding off the back of DMart’s 20th anniversary, customers have been receiving messaging claiming that free gifts are available to anyone who clicks on the link. When customers click on the link, they are taken to a page where they must spin a wheel to win an exclusive item. It claims that “only one gift per IP” is allow to deceive people into believing it’s originality. When customer’s spin the prize gift wheel, they are instructed to claim their prize by following the on-screen instructions.  In order to collect the reward, the person must share the alleged “free gift” offer with other friends.

To stop yourself from falling for these types of tricks, here’s how to protect yourself against scams on Whatsapp.

How can you protect yourself against WhatsApp scams?

  • Take a look at the URL first. For example the website is https://ccweivip.xyz/amazonhz/tb.php?v=ss1616516.  If you look closely at the url, it appears to be faulty, with phrases like amazonhz and others. https://www.amazon.in/ is the original Amazon website link.
  • Do not click on suspicious links.
  • Don’t believe WhatsApp messages that claims to offer free gifts.
  • Look out for messages with spelling errors. Ensure to re-check all of it properly.
  • Check the language of the message. There can be messages presenting the victim with a fraudulent offer or fake warning as an incentive to click through to a malicious URL.

Always be cautious about clicking on links in forwarded mails. It’s possible that it’s a scam. Hackers can even use it to infect your phone or computer with malware. If you get a message from an unknown number, report it to WhatsApp as a fraud and block the number.