WhatsApp phishing scam targets users in Croatia

A phishing scam targeting WhatsApp users in Croatia has been identified, involving messages that use emotional manipulation to trick recipients into clicking malicious links. The messages typically ask users to vote for a person named Nikolina to help her win a scholarship, claiming the victory is vital for her family.

Cybersecurity expert Mate Matijašević describes the tactic as ‘social engineering,’ where attackers exploit emotional triggers to gain trust. These attackers often obtain contact information through data breaches on social media or booking platforms like Booking.com, subsequently selling the data on the dark web.

Clicking the provided links can lead to several risks, including the theft of personal data for resale or the infection of the user's device with malware. The goal of these criminals is often to hijack WhatsApp accounts or extract sensitive personal information.