In a deceptively real-looking email, WhatsApp allegedly asks users to renew an annual subscription.

They should pay using their credit card. But be careful – there is a scam behind it!

A link in the message takes users to a fake WhatsApp website. They should then extend their annual subscription by providing their payment details. If consumers comply with the request, they become victims of data theft and lose their money to criminals.

Consumers receive a message from the sender “WhatsApp Messenger”, who uses an unknown email address, with the subject: “Extend your annual WhatsApp subscription!!”. It literally says:

Dear Customer,

Your annual IN service expires in 48 hours.
WhatsApp ID: 84099IN
Extend your annual subscription

Please renew as soon as possible to avoid loss of all media (video, photos…)
Thanks for choosing WhatsApp,
Team WhatsApp

Need Assistance?
We are happy to help you via live chat or email 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday.
Copyright 2019 WhatsApp.
All rights reserved. Email ID: 009562326

Do you want to extend your annual subscription?

Consumers who want to extend their annual subscription and access the link provided in the email arrive at an unknown website: their address “strange sample page. at” indicates that it does not belong to WhatsApp. The fake WhatsApp website offers visitors the choice of purchasing an “extension” for 1 year, 3 years or 5 years. To make a purchase, consumers must provide their credit card details (name, date of birth, card number, expiry date, CVC) and their account number (IBAN).

WhatsApp users who renew their annual subscription on the fake WhatsApp website provide their credit card and banking details to criminals. This allows data thieves to steal money from their victims' accounts and commit crimes under their names.

How do you know if the WhatsApp email is fake?

The alleged WhatsApp email is fake. You can see this from the following points, among others:

  • The messenger WhatsApp is free. For this reason, there is no reason for you to need to renew an annual subscription.
  • Consumers who register with WhatsApp do not have to provide their email address. This is an indication that the notification does not come from WhatsApp, because the company does not know the email addresses of its users.
  • The sender address “ [email protected] ” shows you that the email is not related to WhatsApp and comes from an unknown email account.
  • The link “Renew your annual subscription” leads to a fake WhatsApp website. This is what you see in your browser's address bar, which tells you that you are actually on an unknown website.
  • The fake WhatsApp message is worded incorrectly: “Please renew as soon as possible to avoid loss of all media (video, photos…)”. As a rule, serious information is proofread and error-free.

Have you renewed your annual subscription?

If you fell for the fake WhatsApp notification and gave the criminals your payment details, contact your payment service provider and your bank immediately. Explain to the company that you have become a victim of data theft and discuss with them how to proceed to prevent damage. File a criminal complaint with the police.

 

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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )