WHATSAPP WEB OF DECEPTION - Cybercriminals exploiting trust, in effort to fleece, as compromised accounts become gateways to close contacts

Crime

Finance

Andre WilliamsJournalist at Jamaica Gleaner

June 25, 2026

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WHATSAPP WEB OF DECEPTION - Cybercriminals exploiting trust, in effort to fleece, as compromised accounts become gateways to close contacts

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The communication usually starts with a greeting like ‘Blessings, how are you? I hope you’re doing great. Please, can you do me a favour?’ or perhaps, ‘Good afternoon. How are you doing? Please, I need you to do me a favour’.

Behind the seemingly innocent WhatsApp messages from trusted friends and relatives are brazen cybercriminals exploiting one of the most powerful tools at their disposal: trust.

After compromising a user’s WhatsApp account, scammers impersonate the victim and begin messaging people in the person’s contact list, relying on the familiarity of a known name and profile picture to lower their guard.

Crime

Finance

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Sourced from Jamaica Gleaner. Visit their website to read the full story.

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