BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Nov 18, CMC – The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) say they are aware of a WhatsApp scams that have affected several members of the public.
The RSCNPF said its White Collar Crime Unit (WCCU) has found that overseas scammers are cloning WhatsApp accounts and sending messages to the victim’s contacts, pretending to be the account owner.
“The fraudulent messages may claim, for example, that the individual is stranded in the United States and urgently needs financial assistance via money transfer,” the RSCNPF said, urging all residents to remain vigilant and exercise caution.
It told members of the public that if they receive a message from a contact requesting money or for you to send to someone, they should contact the individual directly using a reliable method, such as a phone call, to confirm the authenticity of the request.
People are also being urged to avoid sending funds or sharing personal financial information based solely on a message request and “do not click on or approve any text messages, WhatsApp messages, or emails containing access verification codes that you did not personally request”
The police said that if a person suspects he or she is being targeted by a scam, report the incident to the police immediately.
“Public awareness and cooperation are vital in preventing such scams. Given the private nature of WhatsApp, each user is the first line of defense and privacy protection. The RSCNPF continues to urge everyone to be extremely vigilant in order to safeguard themselves and avoid being victimised,” the statement added.
CMC/af/ir/2024