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The rapid growth of technology has opened new backdoors for attackers to target their victims. Cybercriminals are targeting organizations through WhatsApp-based scams, due to which their employees, vendors and customers are continuously targeted through social engineering attacks, impersonation tactics, fake job offers and fraudulent investment schemes. These cyberattacks aim to exploit the trust associated with mobile messaging and can be the reason for data breaches, financial losses and reputation damage. Attackers are using social media platforms like WhatsApp to trap the victims and harm them through modern cyber threats.
In this blog, we will learn about WhatsApp scams in 2025 and prevention strategies that need to be applied to stay secure from these evolving cyber threats.
Top Common WhatsApp Scams in 2025 You Need To Know!
Following are the common WhatsApp Scams which cybercriminals are using to target people through modern tactics:
- Fake Job Offer Scams
Attackers use the trick of job offers to trap people and demand upfront fees or personal details in the name of lucrative high-paying jobs.
- WhatsApp Call Forwarding Scams
To hijack a victim’s account cybercriminals use WhatsApp call forwarding tricks to get unauthorized access to the account.
- 2-Factor Authentication (2-FA) Scam
Fraudsters target victims into sharing OTPs which results in gaining access to their accounts and personal data.
- WhatsApp Romance Scam
Scammers try to build trust and then blackmail victims for monetary benefits and demand personal details.
- E-commerce & Fake Product Scams
Fake sellers advertise their products in the name of discounts but never deliver the product after the payments.
- Cryptocurrency Investment Scams
People often become the victim of fake crypto investments which lead to heavy financial loss.
- WhatsApp Gold Scams
Attackers trick users into upgrading to the premium version by downloading an app which can lead to malware installation in the device.
- Banking and Payment Fraud
Fraudulent messages can be used to impersonate banks and convince users to verify details or make payments.
- Family Member Impersonation Scams
Cybercriminals impersonate as relatives in distress and ask for financial assistance.
- Survey and Giveaway Scams
In the name of surveys and giveaways, people are targeted to steal personal data and infect their devices through malware.
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Impact of WhatsApp Scams
Legal Consequences
Users can become unwitting participants in suspicious criminal activities due to unauthorized financial transactions and data misuse.
Identity theft
Attackers can harvest user’s details leading to WhatsApp identity theft and misuse of confidential data.
Financial Losses
Victims need to suffer heavy financial losses due to fraudulent transactions, investment scams and compromised banking credentials.
Reputational Damages
Organizations need to face reputational damages due to loss of trust and customer confidence when targeted through WhatsApp scams which involve fake payments and data breaches.
Real-Life Example of WhatsApp Scams in 2025
Zerodha (India) – Fake Investment App Scam
- Incident: Attackers tricked a 43-year-old private sector employee into downloading a fake Zerodha trading app using WhatsApp links shared by scammers who were impersonating a broker.
- Impact: Victims need to face a heavy 70 Lakh financial loss after being made to transfer funds and pay fake taxes for withdrawing profits.
- Key Takeaways: In today’s time, legitimate platforms like Zerodha are being cloned for conducting sophisticated scams. The initial point of attack is WhatsApp which is being used by attackers. There is a need to always verify apps or links and always prefer to download from trusted sources.
Source: TOI
7 Prevention Strategies To Stay Secure Against WhatsApp Scams
Providing Security Awareness Training
Organizations need to train employees on multi-attack vector simulations like TSAT and provide interactive gamified training like TLMS to enhance the threat identification and responding skills of the employees.
Enforcement of Strong Authentication Policies
Establishing an extra layer of security such as MFA is must for all businesses related WhatsApp accounts for preventing unauthorized access.
Limit Business Communication on WhatsApp
There is a need to encourage employees to use secure enterprise messaging platforms instead of WhatsApp for confidential discussions.
Monitor and Report Suspicious Activity
Organizations need to establish a cybersecurity incident response team for tracking and reporting WhatsApp-related cyber fraud attempts.
Verification of Financial Transactions and Vendor
Implementing strict verification protocols before approving payments or responding to financial requests via WhatsApp is a must.
Using Secure Business Numbers
Assigning official business WhatsApp accounts with verified numbers can help to prevent impersonation attempts which aim to target senior management and employees of the organizations.
Limiting the exposure to external contacts
There is a need to restrict employees from joining unknown WhatsApp groups which might be a trap set up by attackers for conducting data harvesting or phishing attacks.
Conclusion
In 2025, attackers are using more sophisticated WhatsApp scams with the help of deepfakes, social engineering, and phishing attacks. Organizations need to adopt modern security awareness solutions like TSAT for multiple attack vector simulations and TLMS for interactive gamified awareness solutions.
Also, there is a need to establish security awareness among the employees and train them to deal with modern WhatsApp-based threats. By using Threatcop cybersecurity solutions organizations can reduce the chances of human error and enhance the overall cybersecurity posture of the organization.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the most common WhatsApp scams in 2025?
The most common WhatsApp scams in 2025 include fake job offers, QR code scams, impersonation attacks, investment fraud, and trapping people to click on phishing links.
2. How can I tell if a WhatsApp message is a scam?
There is a need to check for unknown numbers, and urgent requests and avoid clicking on suspicious links attachments or offers, these are some signs of WhatsApp-based scams.
3. Can someone hack my WhatsApp without my knowledge?
Yes, if you share your verification code, click malicious links, or fall for social engineering tricks.
4. What should I do if I receive a suspicious message?
If you find suspicious WhatsApp messages avoid responding or clicking on suspicious links. Block the sender and report the suspicious message to WhatsApp.
5. Is WhatsApp safe to use for personal and business communication?
Yes, there is a need to apply strong password policies,2-FA authentication and be aware of evolving cyber threats.
6. How can organizations protect employees from WhatsApp scams?
Organizations can adopt Threatcop TSAT for simulating multiple attack vectors and TLMS for engaging, gamified awareness training.
Technical Content Writer at Threatcop
Milind Udbhav is a cybersecurity researcher and technology enthusiast. As a Technical Content Writer at Threatcop, he uses his research experience to create informative content which helps audience to understand core concepts easily.
