Beware WhatsApp Wangiri fraud in SA

A new WhatsApp Wangiri fraud campaign has emerged in South Africa where local WhatsApp users are urged to call an international number which incurs significant costs.

Wangiri is a type of phone fraud where the perpetrator dials random mobile numbers and then hangs up after one ring. A missed call then shows on the recipient’s phone.

Users then call back believing it was a legitimate call (or are simply curious), but unbeknown to them the numbers are premium rated.

Users may also be spammed with automated advertising messages when they return these calls.

A new WhatsApp-based version of Wangiri fraud has hit South Africa, where users receive a WhatsApp message with a contact attachment.

However, the number in the contact is different from the number the message originated from. Calling this number back could cost you a lot of money.

“An IVR announcement will play after which you are connected to a call centre agent,” one industry expert explained.

WhatsApp users are warned to be on the lookout for these messages, and not to return the call as requested.

Some examples of the latest WhatsApp Wangiri fraud campaigns in South Africa are provided below.

WhatsApp Wangiri fraud

WhatsApp Wangiri fraud

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