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Digital scams and WhatsApp fraud rise in South America
Digital scams are a growing threat to internet users, utilizing social media, text messages, and messaging applications to steal financial information and access bank accounts. Common tactics include creating a false sense of urgency through messages regarding account blocks, urgent payments, or pending debts to provoke impulsive actions.
In Argentina, WhatsApp has become a primary target for scammers, especially following its growth to over 25 million users in 2021. Fraudulent activities include phishing via malicious links and impersonating financial institutions to request sensitive data. According to a 2022 report by the Asociación Argentina de Usuarios de Internet, more than 40% of users had fallen victim to some form of online scam.
To mitigate these risks, experts recommend verifying all communications through official channels, avoiding suspicious links, and enabling two-step authentication on messaging platforms.
Entities
Argentina · Asociación Argentina de Usuarios de Internet · Colombia · WhatsApp
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] More than 40% of users had been victims of some type of online scam in 2022.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Scammers use messages that create a sense of urgency or pressure to provoke impulsive reactions. diariodelcauca.com.co · www.diariodelsur.com.co · extra.com.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] WhatsApp reached over 25 million users in Argentina in 2021.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Activating two-step authentication on WhatsApp provides an extra layer of security.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Digital scams use social media, text messages, calls, and messaging apps to gain victim trust. diariodelcauca.com.co · www.diariodelsur.com.co · extra.com.co