WhatsApp faces surge in fraud scams and mass account suspensions across Germany and Paraguay

The German consumer watchdog Verbraucherzentrale warned that a wave of WhatsApp fraud scams has compromised at least 90 accounts this year. Criminals impersonate relatives, request six‑digit verification codes and then hijack the accounts to request money, as in an Innsbruck case where a 69‑year‑old paid over €1,000 to a supposed son. The scheme targets elderly users and relies on fake emergency messages.

At the same time, Meta has rolled out stricter automated filters that have triggered mass suspensions of WhatsApp accounts, especially those using unofficial versions such as WhatsApp Plus or GB WhatsApp. Users in Paraguay and other Latin‑American regions report seeing “account under review” notices, with deactivation lasting up to 24 hours. Meta advises affected users to uninstall modified apps and reinstall the official version from the Play Store or App Store to avoid permanent bans.