BEWARE! WhatsApp can be used for stealing money from your bank account; Here is how

WhatsApp is almost everybody's favourite messenger app - globally.  However, WhatsApp users are advised to use this app carefully. It has emerged that fraudsters are targetting them and looking to steal their money. This happens in the form of QR code scam! Cybercriminals are using WhatsApp tricks and stealing money from WhatsApp users' bank accounts. The QR scam involves fraudsters sharing their QR codes usually via WhatsApp to make payments and then trap the victims to send money. There has been a sudden increase in such cases across India. 

Modus operandi
In the majority of the QR code scam cases, fraudsters approach those people who have posted advertisements for sale in the online domain. Recently, Hyderabad or Cyberabad police shared an advisory warning WhatsApp users about such QR Code frauds. They advised WhatsApp users that a QR code is for a payment not for receiving money.

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Speaking on how does this QR Code Scam is executed via WhatsApp, Amit Dubey, a Cybercrime expert said, "In QR Code Scam, a fraudster would send a message to the WhatsApp user giving him information about the lucky winner, or any other alluring offer which is hard to refuse. Once, the WhatsApp user responds, they ask the WhatsApp user to scan the QR code send on their WhatsApp. Once, the user scans the given QR code, he or she becomes a victim of this QR Code Scam as QR Code is for payments only, not for receiving money."

Dubey said that there are several other types of QR Code scams where the fraudster pastes his own QR Code on a vendor's QR code that leads to payments of the vendor going in the bank account of the fraudsters. So, a vendor is advised to keep one's QR code safely and keep it away from the reach of people who can execute such fraudulent activities with his or her QR Code. 

Dubey said that QR Code Scam can take place even n the car parking areas, saying, "A well-dressed person will come to you saying his mobile phone is not working or his mobile internet has gone out of order. The person will ask you to pay through QR Code scan and in return, he or she will pay you the cash. Actually, they are trying to execute a malware attack on your android phone as the QR Code is a URL and by scanning your mobile you exposed your mobile phone to a malware attack." 

Dubey said that some online sales portals also do the same by returning your money into your bank account on your purchase. Then they will call on your number posing as customer care executive and ask you to make payment through QR code, which they would send through WhatsApp. When a customer scans the same, his phone becomes a victim of malware attack that leads to the looting of his or her hard-earned money from the bank account.

Elaborating upon how to avoid such QR Code scam via malware attack, Pawan Duggal, a cybercrime expert said, "One needs to download anti-malware software on one's smartphone. This anti-malware software can be found through a simple Google search. And they are available without any charges."