Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Factions' statement: The attendees agreed to support and continue implementing the ceasefire agreement measures, including the withdrawal of the occupation and lifting the siege.
Factions' statement: Calling for an end to all forms of torture and violations against prisoners in occupation prisons and the necessity of obligating the occupation to do so.
Statement: The current moment is crucial, making the meeting a true turning point toward national unity in defense of our people and their right to life, dignity, and freedom.
Factions' statement: Call for an urgent meeting of all Palestinian forces and factions to agree on a national strategy.
Factions' statement: Continuing joint work to unify visions and positions to confront the challenges facing the Palestinian cause.
Statement of the factions: Emphasis on the unity of the Palestinian political system and the independent national decision.
Statement: Approval to establish an international committee to oversee the financing and implementation of the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
Statement: The committee is responsible for managing life and services in cooperation with Arab brothers and international institutions, based on transparency and accountability.
Resistance factions' statement: Agreement to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a temporary Palestinian committee of independent technocrats.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two people martyred in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle in Toul.

Explainer: Types of WhatsApp scams and how to avoid them

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 3 Nov 2022 12:14
3 Min Read

Have you been getting a lot of work-from-home job offers on WhatsApp lately? If your first instinct was that it was too good to be true, you'd be correct.

  • x
  • WhatsApp logo
    Some scams that claim to offer WFH are smart and convincing

Despite its security precautions, WhatsApp is still plagued by scammers involving work-from-home (WFH) employment offers, KBC lottery winners, and other scams.

Have you been getting a lot of work-from-home job offers on WhatsApp lately? If your first instinct was that it was too good to be true, you'd be correct. These texts are simply part of an increasingly popular scammers' operation to steal your money.

While certain scams, such as those that say you've won a large jackpot, may appear obvious, others that claim to offer WFH are smart and convincing. In light of these incidents, The Indian Express has compiled a list of the most common WhatsApp scams and how to avoid them.

Work-from-home scams

The WFH scam is perhaps the most frequent of its sort, in which scammers send out messages in batches to a large number of victims. 

If you respond, you'll be prompted to set up a Telegram "work" account, where the scammer will assign you "tasks." 

Surprisingly, you'll have to pay to receive fresh tasks, and the scammer will keep delivering them while assuring you that you'll be compensated eventually. 

However, as with most frauds, the incentive never materializes, and the scammer vanishes when you detect foul play and begin asking too many questions.

The simplest method to avoid such scams is to absolutely disregard any WFH-related job offers. 

Recruiters typically hire through established job portals such as LinkedIn and Naukri, where they may interact with a larger audience, and there's no incentive for them to contact random people via chat apps on their own.

Electricity bill scam

Many consumers have received texts on WhatsApp and SMS from unknown numbers suggesting that their electricity will be disconnected if the bill is not paid. 

Instead of redirecting you to, say, an official government portal, you're directed to a phone number.

As previously stated, the power board normally warns consumers about late bills via automated calls or formal text messages. 

They never ask you to phone a specific number. So, if any of these 'notifications' have an unknown number, it's a hoax. Blocking the sender is the recommended line of action.

WhatsApp QR code scam

QR codes are commonly used to make UPI payments. However, scammers can twist those and use them to steal money from you. One method is to send people SMS informing them that they have won something, such as a monetary award, along with a QR code. The message will instruct you to scan the code, enter a predetermined sum, and ‘receive' the cash. 

However, rather than receiving money, you would be paying crooks, making this tactic yet another convincing hoax.

Understanding how QR codes operate with UPI is the simplest approach to prevent falling victim to such scams.

QR codes are rarely used to accept payments; they are only used to make payments. And if someone asks you to scan a QR code so that they can pay you, whether, by WhatsApp, SMS, or email, you should disregard them.

  • Whatsapp
  • WhatsApp scams
  • WFH
  • Electricity bill scam
  • WhatsApp QR code scam

Most Read

From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Flags of Iran, Russia, and China (IRNA)
Politics

Russia, China, Iran send joint letter to IAEA on Resolution 2231 end

Rubio says UNRWA to play no role in Gaza aid deliveries
Politics

Rubio says UNRWA to play no role in Gaza aid deliveries

Tents are seen at UN school used as a shelter for displaced Palestinians in Khan Younis, Tuesday, September 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Politics

UN warns of 'lost generation' amid Gaza education crisis

x
Politics

White House pushes to repeal US sanctions on Syria: Report

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS