You’ve probably used a messaging app and sent a photo to one of your contacts, right? It’s easy, isn’t it? Well, now you can also send and receive money using WhatsApp Pay with the same ease as sending a photo of your barbecue. Payment via WhatsApp is one of the latest updates to the most used messaging app in Brazil.
In fact, the app will act as an intermediary between its users, banking institutions, credit card companies and Facebook Pay . After all, Brazil is a pioneer in this new payment method and, as is usually the case in the beginning, many doubts are raised. Mainly regarding user security. With approximately 120 million users in Brazil alone and now with financial transactions allowed, the app has become a target for criminals who commit fraud, causing serious financial losses to users.
In this blog post you will see some of the main scams used by criminals and understand why prevention is always a good medicine.
How WhatsApp payments work
For now, the promise is that transactions will be free. However, to make payments or receive money, users must create a PIN for Facebook Pay , which will work with their electronic signature. After creating the PIN, the user will enter their iceland whatsApp number database personal data, CPF and full name.
You will also need to add debit cards, prepaid cards with Visa or Mastercard , issued by partner banks .
That’s the easy part. Now comes the hard part, which addresses the dangers of this type of transaction.
Can WhatsApp payments be risky?
The most direct and objective answer is yes, making payments via WhatsApp has its risks. A more elaborate answer would say that it depends a lot on the precautions you take before making payments using the app. In other words, the risks exist, but they can be significantly reduced if you are aware of the dangers in advance.
Even before Pix via WhatsApp became a reality, the fear of fraud in transactions via the popular messaging app has already kept many people away from this new payment method. A survey stated that 78% of Brazilian users are reluctant to make payments via WhatsApp .
This number actually shows that people are relatively concerned about security. And if you take into account the number of registrations on the platform and the amounts that can be reached, the concern makes sense. But there is no need to panic.
There is a minimum level of security
WhatsApp itself ensures the security of your data through encryption and the various layers of protection that store user information. Therefore, your device’s biometrics and unique PIN serve to increase the level of data protection.
It is important to note that information Iceland Consumer Email List such as bank and card numbers used are not shared with the person you are sending money to. Only the banking institution involved in the transaction has access to such data.
Another security-related issue is related to changing devices. When the app is installed on another device, the function does not migrate automatically and must be reinstalled on the new device. This measure prevents scammers from compromising the victim’s card after the account is stolen.
Learn about the main scams used
Even with technology on your side, there are still criminals who go out of their way to commit scams. That’s why it’s essential to know the main ones. Check out the most common scams used by scammers below.
1- WhatsApp Cloning:
This is a classic scam. A survey conducted by the security company PSafe stated that more than 5 million Brazilians had their WhatsApp mailing data cloned in 2020 alone. Most people believe that the greatest danger lies in the leaking of conversations. But the truth is that, often, it is the users themselves who share malicious links with their contacts, facilitating the cloning.
With your cloned account, criminals have free access to your contacts. They can ask for money for a specific need, pretending to be you.
To prevent or even in case the worst happens, follow these instructions.
To avoid sending money to the wrong person, it is important to make sure you are speaking to the correct person on the other end.
If your number has already been cloned, try to recover your account by uninstalling and reinstalling the application on your device, obtaining a new validation code.
Additionally, using two-factor authentication to enable an extra layer of security makes it harder for your account to be hacked.
Your password must be confidential. Therefore, never share it with other people.
If your number is cloned, notify your contacts immediately and file a police report.
Notify WhatsApp immediately.
