WhatsApp is the application most widely used instant messaging worldwide. Its ease of use, along with all the news that the company Meta continuously introduced, have managed to get many users to declare themselves faithful to the app. In fact, there are already studies that suggest that they have managed to create a new form of communication. And it is true, because today, few are the procedures that cannot be started through WhatsApp.
The speed of communication through Text messagesthe ease of talking with several people through the groups and the possibility of doing video calls of up to 50 people with its ‘Web’ version, have made WhatsApp It also becomes a job search tool. Many companies request information through this appjust like many people apply to offers through the same channel.
But you have to be careful. Sometimes, the need to aspire to a job can make us fall for scams that can be very expensive. Unfortunately, today there are cybercriminals who use apps like WhatsApp to get hold of the personal and bank details of their victims. This practice, which is already known as ‘phishing’, consists of fraudulently impersonating companies or public institutions.
The SEPE warns about this danger on WhatsApp
The Public Service of State Employment (HEDGE) has launched a message on his official account of Twitter to warn about the danger that being a victim of this practice may entail. «Protect yourself from ‘phishing’ or online fraud attempts. Remember that SEPE will never request your personal or bank details by SMS, email or WhatsApp«. In this forceful way, they have made it clear that they will always request the necessary information through official channels.
⚠ Protects the #phishing online fraud attempts.
???? Remember that SEPE will never request your personal or bank details for ⤵️
???? SMS
???? More information ???? https://t.co/D4KInEqjpw pic.twitter.com/KXdzv24n4E
—SEPE (@empleo_SEPE) January 8, 2023
In addition, they have expanded this information on their website, where they indicate that “It is a fraud that is generally committed through email, although they can use other means, such as SMS messages, social networks, instant messaging applications such as WhatsApp, or calls telephone. Their main goal is to steal sensitive information and access credentials.”
To avoid falling into the trap of sending personal data to fraudulent recipients, the SEPE warns that all messages should be suspected what:
- Pressure you to perform a certain action urgently or immediately.
- They offer you a refund that you must claim.
- Contains unusual expressions of a formal communication, spelling or grammatical errors.
If you receive one of these messages, the most important thing is to delete it. Never accede to their requests, do not open any link and discard it immediately. In addition, the SEPE has reported that “To obtain technical, psychosocial and legal advice, there is the number 017, made available to the public by the National Institute of Cybersecurity (INCIBE). This is a free and confidential service that operates from 9 in the morning to 9 at night, 365 days a year.