by Google
Imagine that you receive a message on WhatsApp from an unknown number from your "loved one" and it says that this is his new number. It starts innocently, right? After all, people commonly change numbers, lose their phones, or switch from one operator to another. A moment later, you receive a new message saying that your loved one urgently needs money. You send it to him, but when you talk to your loved one after some time, you find out that he doesn't know anything about it. Yes, you have become a victim of fraud.
This is currently one of the most common online scams circulating in Slovakia and can also be called ,,fake family” scam. Scammers target our trust, emotions and family ties. Let's take a look at how this scam works and how not to fall for it.
What is a ,,fake family” scam?
It is a sophisticated online scam that spreads through communication applications such as WhatsApp. The scam is simple, but effective - the scammer pretends to be a loved one, most often a child or sibling, and asks for immediate financial help. 
Unlike classic scam messages, these messages are NOT characterized by suspicious grammar or suspicious links. I hope you already know that you should never click on unknown links. The messages are written in a very trustworthy and convincing way, because scammers use their knowledge of language, emotions, and interpersonal relationships. Scammers are often inspired by information they find publicly on social networks, such as children's names, photos, or current family events.
They are often one or two short messages that create an impression of urgency. This is the key – people have little time to think and react impulsively. Moreover, since the messages come from a alleged family member, few people check their authenticity.
Why does this scam work?
The insidiousness of this scam lies in the fact that it targets psychology, not technical skills. The messages are short, effective and use expressions like “mom”, “please”, “I’m in trouble”, or “I need it now”. In this way, they create the impression that the situation is urgent. 
Since the fraudster impersonates a loved one, a person can easily panic because they naturally want to help their loved one. AI also plays a big role in these scams, which can imitate the style of expression based on publicly available information and thus prepare highly personalized messages.
At the same time, many people would rather risk falling for a scam than not helping their child, sibling, or friend. Fraudsters play on uncertainty and put pressure on time, e.g. ,,I have to pay it within the hour”. 
How to protect yourself?
Scam tactics are constantly improving, and by the time we figure out how to avoid one, a new and more trustworthy one appears. Here are a few tips on how to protect yourself from scam messages:
1. Verify the number - if someone texts you from an unknown number and claims to be your loved one, call the number or text them to call you. If it's really your loved one, they'll call you, and if it's a scammer, they won't call you or answer the call. Insist that they confirm their identity with their voice.
2. Request a voice message or video call - this step is similar to the previous one. Ask the person who is pretending to be your loved one for a voice message or video call. It's very likely that the scammer will avoid this. 
3. Don't panic and take your time - since scammers work under time pressure, it's a good idea to stop and think for a moment. Ask yourself whether the person would write to you via a given social network, whether they would communicate in this style, whether they would rather not call you, whether they would...and so on.
4. Raise awareness - many older people have no experience with digital scams and are not as skilled with technology. At the same time, they are more likely to react more emotionally and impulsively. Explain to them how scams work (you can forward this article to them, wink) and how to check the situation. 
SMS scams and fake couriers
WhatsApp is not the only platform on which scammers try to extort money. A very common type of scam is fake SMS messages from a supposed courier or post office. It is also a simple but effective mechanism. You receive an SMS message that pretends to be from Slovak Post, DPD, Packeta or DHL and it says that you have a package that could not be delivered. It also says that in order to deliver the package, you need to update your data, address or pay a few euros. The message also includes a link to a fake page, which you should DO NOT click on.
You may have noticed that scam SMS messages sometimes appear in the same conversation as previous real messages from the courier. This is not because the attacker has hacked your phone - it is a trick in which the scammerforges the name of the sender (e.g. "DHL" or "Post") so that the message appears trustworthy. Mobile phones will then automatically add the message to an existing thread. That is why you should pay particular attention to suspicious links and rather check the status of the shipment directly via the official website of the courier service.
The digital world, on the one hand, makes our lives and communication with loved ones who are far away easier. On the other hand, there are more and more scams and hoaxes and they seem more trustworthy. Just one unverified click can cost you hundreds to thousands of euros, which will end up in the hands of someone you've never met. That's why it's important to be careful, verify everything, and educate our parents and grandparents.
