WhatsApp promises us security by limiting the accessibility of our text via end-to-end encryption. This end-to-end encryption confines the exchanged texts between the sender and the receiver. Still, scammers find a way to intervene. Though WhatsApp authority is regularly working on bolstering their security, a few countermeasures are helpful to resist scammers and their committed forgery.
IN THIS ARTICLE
What is the Hi Mum Scam?
The Hi mum scam is one of the prominent WhatsApp scams that has been continually flourishing over the years. The scam is named after the scammer’s method of working where they approach their target as their child and ask for money. Scammers generally claim that they have lost their phone or damaged it in an accident, justifying their need for contacting them from an unknown number.
Scammers who implement this tactic primarily target parents who have children with smartphones. Their modus operandi is approaching them via WhatsApp with a text message stating “Hi mum” or “ Hi dad” and continuing the money takeover process as soon as they reply
Scammers are also found asking for bank details or six-digit pin codes instead of directly asking for money. WhatsApp users need to be wary of such scams which may lead to account takeover and even greater losses, with precautions held in abeyance.
How does the Hi Mum whatsapp Scam Work?
The Hi mum whatsapp scam is a kind of scam that does not appear only with a request for money. Like other phishing scams, the text may come with a malicious link swerving targets to a fraudulent website where further perpetration continues.
As previously stated, the Hi mum scam can give rise to many other scams including identity theft, remote code execution, account takeover, etc. Scammers in a pretense of their targets’ children may sever their accounts by forwarding malicious media files and GIFs.
Hi, mum scammers may also resort to the buffer overflow method, insinuating spyware into their targets’ phones, giving rise to identity theft later. Thus Hi mum scams have the potential of escorting havoc in many ways.
Can you report a scammer on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp provides us the option of reporting a chat or a person immediately when someone finds it inappropriate. When you report a chat on WhatsApp, the authorities get their hands into the last five messages of the reported user and take action accordingly. WhatsApp facilitates direct reports of a suspicious user from the chat section.
So you should take advantage of this feasible process and report the contact readily when you receive messages from an unknown number stating “Hi mum” in it.
How to cancel QR Code in Whatsapp?
Each WhatsApp user is provided with a unique QR code. With this QR code users can add other users/contacts on WhatsApp by letting them scan the code. Additionally, one can also scan their QR code onto a distinct device to log into their Whatsapp account. Sometimes the QR code falls into the wrong hands, posing a risk of identity theft or money takeover. Such situations compel us to seek a solution.
One can prevent such circumstances from causing further harm by simply resetting the QR code. QR can be reset in many ways. To reset the QR code one can tap the QR icon available in the WhatApp settings option and then proceed to click ‘More’ > ‘Reset QR Code’ > ‘Reset’ > ‘Ok’.
QR code also gets deleted when one deletes their WhatsApp account.
Why am I getting WhatsApp messages from strangers?
Anyone having your number can text you on WhatsApp. Though strangers can appear in your chat section, mistaking someone’s identity with you, but most of the time they are acquisitive scammers, waiting to scam people. They garner their target’s WhatApp number to scam them out of money. The problem may also occur when you possess a number that was assigned to someone else before.
Whatever the reason is, you should always approach an unsolicited message with skepticism and avoid clicking links or downloading any attachments coming from them.
How do I stop suspicious WhatsApp messages?
Unsolicited messages, texts providing doubtful links, demanding money, and claiming to provide too good to be true rewards, can be considered as suspicious messages. If you encounter a message that seems suspicious, restrain yourself from forwarding the message further. Unsolicited messages need to be blocked as the crows fly. We suggest that you should not only confine yourself to blocking but also report the number immediately, preventing yourself from getting scammed.
When a message comes unsolicited, WhatsApp provides users an option of blocking the suspicious user directly at the top of the chat.
How do I make my WhatsApp private?
Unlike regular messaging platforms, WhatsApp allows us to see others’ last seen, stories, online status, etc. We are allowed to add people and have conversations in a group chat, see when the messages are getting delivered, and when our contacts see them. With the new feature on WhatsApp, we can even retrieve our sent messages. Moreover, with the location-sharing feature, we can even look through where other people are roaming around.
Though these features serve us in many ways, it comes with a lot of obstacles too. As scammers frequently take advantage of such accessibility to private information, sometimes one needs to limit their privacy. By following these steps you can make your WhatsApp completely private, reducing the possibility of getting scammed.
- Limit who can see your profile picture by only making it available for your contacts or visible for nobody.
- Turn off your ‘Last seen’ and ‘online’ status to restrain others from learning when you come online.
- Enable two-factor authentication.
- With the new ‘Group’ feature in the Privacy settings, you can limit who can add you to a group to initiate a chat.
- Terminate your live location access by turning it off.
- Be picky about whom you share your status with.
- You can turn off your ‘Read receipts’ to refrain people from knowing if you have read their messages or not.
- Enable end-to-end encrypted back-ups and know who has access to your cloud.
FAQ
Is the ‘Hi mum’ scam prevalent in Australia?
As the report says scammers have garnered $7 million from Australians to date, we can conclude that the ‘Hi mum’ scam is quite prevalent in Australia.
Can I get my money back from a scammer?
You can get your scammed money back with the help of Financial Fund Recovery. Financial Fund Recovery is a prominent solution for all kinds of scams irrespective of their types.
Has a ‘Hi mum’ WhatsApp scam duped you? Contact us! Our experts at Financial Fund Recovery will help you recover your money