WhatsApp Users Alert! From free flight tickets, Ayushmaan Bharat, WhatsApp Gold to free Paytm cash, beware of latest hacking tricks
Whatsapp Alert: Over the last few weeks, messages linked to free air tickets, WhatsApp Gold update and Ayushmaan Bharat registration have been doing rounds on the app.
One of the world's most widely used social messaging apps, WhatsApp, has been the favourite of hackers and fraudsters. Several scams had happened in the past in which hackers have used WhatsApp to fool the people. Over the last few weeks, messages linked to free air tickets, WhatsApp Gold update and Ayushmaan Bharat registration have been doing rounds on the app intending to hack people's smartphones and thereby steal money from them. These messages have links attached to them. Once you click on them, either they install malware in your smartphone or take you to a page where they ask you to furnish private information. You must be aware of these tricks used by hackers and fraudsters to con you off your money. Here are complete details of these WhatsApp messages and how to save yourself from falling prey to fraudsters:
WhatsApp Gold
'WhatsApp Gold' fiasco spread in India with people receiving messages urging them to download 'an update' for the messaging app, which in reality is a malware. WhatsApp has a user base of over 200 million in India, which means that there is a high possibility of maximum impact being borne by Indian users, resulting in huge volumes of personal data being compromised.
“An open philosophy and relaxed app submission protocols have resulted in a host of malicious applications being hosted on the Google Play store. While an open philosophy is a great step to encourage budding programmers, it also renders the platform and its users vulnerable to installing fraudulent apps, exposing the consumer to data theft and proliferation of user information," said Venkat Krishnapur, Vice President of Engineering and Managing Director, McAfee India.
Free Air Tickets On WhatsApp
Certain messages have been circulating on WhatsApp that airlines are giving out free tickets. The messages contain a link similar to the website of the said airlines. Recently, one message linked to Singapore Airlines was spotted by users.
Ayushmaan Bharat registration On WhatsApp
Ayushman Bharat is National Health Protection Scheme, which will cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage up to 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. The state governments itself register the beneficiary in the scheme. However, messages have been doing rounds on the WhatsApp asking people to register to get the free treatment coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh.