When using social networking applications, spam messages have become quite familiar to users. For WhatsApp, the messaging social network with more than 2 billion users is even more susceptible to random messages.
These spammers often want to steal your personal information or scam your money. So, why are you receiving random WhatsApp messages? Join us to learn 5 ways to recognize random messages on WhatsApp and how to avoid them!
What Exactly Are Random Messages on WhatsApp?
Random messages on WhatsApp are unsolicited communications that attempt to defraud you of money or personal information. They pose as a friend or acquaintance and try to get you to click on malicious links. To add authenticity to their messages, some would try to impersonate WhatsApp executives or customer service.
By now, you’ve probably received a slew of spam emails and SMS. Even if tech-savvy people believe they can avoid spam SMS scams, scammers are becoming more sophisticated every day. Spam SMS today are even more difficult to distinguish from legitimate messages.
What Are the Different Types of Random Messages on WhatsApp?
Random messages on WhatsApp are almost always a fraud. However, because there are a few other examples, people classify random messages on WhatsApp into three categories:
Messages that are Spam
Random messages on WhatsApp can come from friends, relatives, or strangers, and can include everything from legal product or service advertisements to chain letters. These are unsolicited messages that might originate from any source. They’re frequently sent using bots that make cold calls or send text messages to numbers that are generated at random. Spam messages are inconvenient, but you may block numbers as they appear in your WhatsApp.
Messages from Scammers
Spam communications aren’t nearly as dangerous as scam messages. Random messages on WhatsApp are inconvenient, but they are usually harmless. Scam messages are sent by criminals who are attempting to obtain your personally identifiable information in order to steal your identity or to deceive you into sending them money. Threats, promises of huge financial returns in exchange for a little price or deposit, or links to steal your login information on retail websites are all examples of scam messaging.
Identical errors
Because WhatsApp uses your phone number to connect you with friends and family, it’s possible that your number was previously assigned to someone else.
Someone could have saved your current phone number under the previous owner’s name, for example. They then send you a random messages on WhatsApp, assuming you are the previous owner of that phone number.
How Can I Tell Random Messages on WhatsApp?
You can report a phone number on WhatsApp
WhatsApp Business allows businesses to communicate with their consumers via the WhatsApp interface. Using the WhatsApp Business function for bulk texting or unsolicited contact is against WhatsApp’s agreements.
To report a WhatsApp account that sending random messages on WhatsApp, do as follow:
Step 1: Click on the chat box, select the profile of the person you want to report.
Step 2: Then scroll down to the report account section.
Remember that banning numbers is just one approach to improve the security of your WhatsApp account.
Block someone – way to advoid random messages on WhatsApp
Blocking annoying users is one of the benefits WhatsApp equips its users. So if you see any signs of fraud, block these numbers immediately.
Step 1: Open a message, click on the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner
Step 2: Choose More > Block, you can block WhatsApp accounts.
Ignored these spam
One of the most efficient strategies to avoid being scammed is to ignore random messages on WhatsApp. Scammers frequently utilize the same content and tactics to deceive users. Those who are familiar with this message pattern are well aware that these spam communications are phishing attempts. As a result, the wisest course of action is to ignore these notifications.
Private personal information
Never give out personal information to random messages on WhatsApp or to persons you don’t recognize.
Scammers frequently pretend to be an old acquaintance of the victim and explain that they are stuck somewhere because of the covid 19 pandemic.
They will attempt to obtain information such as a bank account number or a user’s personal data. As a result, never send money or other personal information with somebody you don’t know.
Never click on links with questionable URLs
Clicking on URL links in random messages on WhatsApp is not a good idea. Scammers will insert dangerous code into these URLs, taking advantage of users’ trust.
The scammer can take bank account details, private images, or personal information if the user fills in information or allows these connections to access their phone.
Characteristics of Random Messages on WhatsApp
The simplest method to avoid getting scammed is to recognize what is spam. Random messages on WhatsApp are actually pretty easy to spot. We’ll show you how to spot common spam messages and give you some tips on how to stop getting them.
Messages That are Frequently Forwarded
Most WhatsApp users are aware that they may forward messages received from one person to another (for those who aren’t, long-press a message and hit the forward icon in the upper-right corner of the screen).
Instead of the single arrow that indicates an usual forwarded message, you’ll notice a double arrow sign when a message has been forwarded five times.
A little notice will also appear on the message box itself, stating that the message has been “forwarded many times.”
It’s vital to understand the difference: if a message has been forwarded more than five times, it’s either spreading like wildfire, bogus news, or something more dangerous.
Unidentified Number
You can send a message to anyone whose phone number you have on WhatsApp.
That means spammers can scour the internet for contact information, purchase lists of active phone numbers on the dark web, and even hack other services that have your phone number on file, then the scammer will send you random messages.
Sure, every now and then you’ll get a message from an unknown number that turns out to be a friend who’s switched phones, but the vast majority of the time, it’ll be spam.
Although it is not a failsafe method, hiding your WhatsApp status can deter some people from sending you unsolicited messages.
The sender will have no way of knowing whether or not your account is active.
Scams and Links
The goal of a large portion of random messages on WhatsApp is to get you to click on a link in the message.
Click the link at your own risk; it will attempt to elicit your personal information, banking information, login credentials, or any other type of data that has value on the dark web.
This type of spam has been employed in a number of well-known WhatsApp scams in recent years, including:
- WhatsApp Gold: Throughout 2016, millions of users were spammed with a supposedly premium version of WhatsApp. By clicking the link and submitting a money, you would reportedly gain access to a more upscale version of WhatsApp that celebrities use.
- Expiration of WhatsApp: This is a common WhatsApp scam. A notification will appear stating that your WhatsApp account has expired and that you must pay to revive it. Remember that WhatsApp never charges you to download the app, and once you’re up and running, you won’t see any new charges on your account.
Random messages on WhatsApp - Shopping Vouchers: One of the most prevalent WhatsApp scams is receiving a message promising $250 in high-street shopping vouchers in exchange for completing a survey. In practice, the only thing you’ll get in return for your efforts is your identity being stolen.
Scam messages on WhatsApp
Use of Specific Words
Random messages on WhatsApp use the same general tricks to hoax you. There are five frequent forms of phrasing in messages that you should be cautious of, according to WhatsApp’s own literature:
- There may be misspellings or grammatical errors.
- Requesting that you touch on a link or use a link to enable new features.
- Requesting personal information from you, such as credit card or bank account numbers, birth dates, and passwords.
- I’m requesting that you forward a message.
- It is claimed that you must pay to utilize WhatsApp.
If you receive a communication that meets one of the criteria, delete it as soon as possible.
The above article has shared with you 5 ways to recognize random messages on WhatsApp and how to avoid them. Hopefully through the article you will have a better understanding of spam messages on WhatsApp to avoid being fooled by scammers.
