WhatsApp and deepfake scam warning for South Africa

Momentum Group financial director Risto Ketola has warned South Africans to be wary of deepfake and invite-only WhatsApp group scams impersonating high-profile people.

Speaking to eNCA, Ketola explained that he was impersonated through one such WhatsApp Group scam, and noted that he is still struggling to have the group taken down.

“There are many different types of scams going on out there. Recently, there was one where people were impersonating me giving stock tips,” he said.

“In my case, it was just a WhatsApp Group where people took my photo from LinkedIn and created a closed group where they invited people.”

WhatsApp groups created to scam people frequently have their message permissions set to admin-only, meaning members cannot send messages in the group to warn others of the scam.

“I can’t join the group and warn people, and even if people phoned me and I told them it was a fake, they can’t put messages there. It’s an admin-only type of group,” said Ketola.

He added that getting the scam WhatsApp Group shut down has been very difficult.

“I’ve been surprised at how hard it is to put a stop to this,” he said.

However, he also warned of artificial intelligence (AI) technology being used to create convincing deepfakes of high-profile individuals to scam people.

“Sometimes it is just simple online or WhatsApp scams. Sometimes it’s very advanced AI technology,” said Ketola.

“We see people using AI technology to create voice notes from famous people, even some videos. The videos aren’t that great, but they’re getting better over time. Be vigilant.”

However, it should be noted that these types of impersonation scams don’t only target high-profile individuals.

Scammers often impersonate prominent companies in an attempt to trick customers into paying fake fees or divulging their sensitive information. One such example is MultiChoice’s DStv.

DStv scam warning

MultiChoice-owned DStv recently published a statement warning its customers of various fraudulent activities targeting them, including fake service discontinuation and outstanding payment alerts.

It warned that fraudsters try to dupe customers with fake promotions and malicious software.

“We want to empower you to stay safe and avoid falling victim to these scams,” DStv said.

The pay-TV broadcaster highlighted several prominent tactics that scammers use to try to dupe customers:

• Fake promotions — scammers may offer free streaming or other enticing deals to lure customers into downloading malicious software.
• Phishing attempts — fraudsters may send emails or SMS messages pretending to be from DStv, requesting customers’ personal information or payment details.
• False prize alerts — scammers may attempt to dupe customers by claiming that they’ve won a prize and asking for a fee or personal information from customers to claim the prize.
• Impersonating DStv staff — fraudsters may pose as DStv employees or accredited installers, offering unrealistic deals or requesting access to your home.
• Verification requests — some scammers may introduce themselves with a piece of your personal information to appear credible, before requesting customers to verify themselves with a selfie or OTP.

“If you receive an unexpected email, SMS, or phone call claiming to be from DStv, be cautious and verify the information through official DStv channels,” said DStv.

“Do not share your personal information, including your DStv account details, passwords, or credit card numbers with anyone who contacts you unsolicited.”

The broadcaster also said customers should verify email addresses or phone numbers from which unsolicited communications originate to ensure they are legitimate.

“Avoid downloading apps from unknown sources or clicking on suspicious links. Always download apps from official app stores and verify the authenticity of the source,” it said.

DStv customers who believe they have fallen victim to a scam are encouraged to contact the broadcaster as soon as possible.