"Your WhatsApp Messenger Account will be Expired in 48 Hours" Phishing Scams
Whatsapp users who have received messages claiming their accounts will expire and they need to purchase a WhatsApp extension are asked to delete the messages and should not follow the instructions in them. This is because there is no WhatsApp extension and the messages are fakes that are being sent by cyber criminals to their potential victims. The fake messages or phishing scams are being used to trick potential victims into clicking the link within them, which will take them to a fake WhatsApp website where they will be asked to purchase a WhatsApp Messenger extension that doesn't exist.
A Sample of a "WhatsApp Messenger Extension" Phishing Message
From: Whatsapp - Expired-Notification@Whatsapp.outlook.com
Sent: Tuesday, 20 June 2017 4:40 AM
Subject: RE : Account Expired !
WhatsAppLogo
Warning ! Your account WhatsApp Messenger will be expired in 48 hours !
If You Do Not Update Your Membership Account It Will Be Expire Within 48 Hours. Please Update as soon as Possible To Avoid Loosing Your Files (Pictures, Vedios ...)
You Can Update Your Account Membership for only 0.99CAD, By Clicking
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
On the fake website, visitors are asked to enter their credit card information to pay for the fake WhatsApp extension. If they enter the requested information their credit cards will be charged for a service that doesn't exist and their credit card information will be stolen and used fraudulently.
WhatsApp users who have already been tricked by the phishing scam are asked to contact their banks and have them cancel the fraudulent transactions and refund their money. They may need to get a new credit card to prevent the cybercriminals from occasionally charging their credit cards for an undetermined amount.
Check the comment section for additional information, or share what you know or ask a question about this article, by clicking the 'View or Write Comment' button below.
Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.