Lucrezia Ciotti A WhatsApp message from a friend or family member, an urgent request for money and the promise of quick repayment. Behind what appears to be a normal plea for help could be a new cyber scam , exploiting compromised accounts to deceive contacts. The Postal Police is raising the alarm, urging users to be vigilant and always verify the identity of anyone asking for money, even when the message comes from a trusted person.
Alarm over new WhatsApp scam: "Would you do me a huge favor?"
A seemingly innocuous cry for help, sent from a friend or family member, could be hiding a new and insidious WhatsApp scam . What makes it particularly difficult to spot is that the messages appear to come from known people and can even appear within existing conversations.
The scammer, in fact, exploits a compromised account to pretend to be the legitimate owner and gain the recipients' trust.
The script is simple: a message arrives describing a supposed problem with a credit card or bank account, accompanied by an urgent request for money. Among the phrases used are: " Would you do me a huge favor? I've exceeded my limit and it won't let me transfer X euros."
Could you advance it instantly? The victim is then asked to make a bank transfer, providing the recipient's IBAN, or to top up a prepaid card such as Postepay. The reported amounts include requests for €318, but also amounts exceeding €1,000. Even when asked to confirm their identity, the supposed friend might reply, " Yes, it's me ," continuing to insist on getting the money.
Postal Police warns: how to protect yourself from the new WhatsApp scam
The Postal Police has reported a new scam campaign involving several users in Italy. The reports also involve Apple devices with outdated versions of iOS and WhatsApp. Criminals could exploit software vulnerabilities to access accounts and send messages to contacts, without the owner having to click on suspicious links or enter their credentials. This is a particularly insidious approach because the victim may not immediately notice the compromise.
To avoid falling into this trap, it's important not to trust requests for money received in chats , even if they appear to come from someone you know. If in doubt, you should end the conversation and contact the person directly by phone, without continuing the exchange of messages.
If you suspect your account has been compromised, you should immediately notify friends and family through another channel so they can ignore any suspicious requests. You should also check the " Connected Devices " section of WhatsApp and disconnect any you don't recognize . Other precautions include backing up your chats, reinstalling the app, and updating iOS to the latest version available. Finally, it's essential to never share PINs, passwords, or verification codes with anyone and to report the incident to the Postal Police.