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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [CRIME]

2 clusters · 2 sources · 27 days · First seen · Last updated

WhatsApp-based crime and fraud in Latin America

Overview

Criminal activity involving WhatsApp has been reported in Honduras and Colombia, ranging from financial fraud to violent crime. In Honduras, hackers compromised a supplier’s account to facilitate a scam involving exchange rates, resulting in a loss of over 204,700 lempiras. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the fraud.

In Colombia, a fraudulent job offer sent via the platform led to the four-hour kidnapping of an accountant in Bogotá. Armed men demanded 50 million COP from the victim’s family and seized cash and valuables before the victim was released.

Entities

Akshaye Boodhun · Central Criminal Investigation Department · WhatsApp · Dirección Policial de Investigaciones

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    WhatsApp scams and investigations involving group chats

    Reports highlight two distinct WhatsApp issues: a sophisticated account-hijacking scam using fake voting links and a criminal investigation in Mauritius regarding a large group chat allegedly inciting violence.

  2. [CRIME] 3 sources
    WhatsApp used in fraud and kidnapping incidents in Honduras and Colombia

    WhatsApp is being used as a tool for diverse criminal activities, including a 204,700 lempira fraud in Honduras and a four-hour kidnapping involving a fake job offer in Bogotá, Colombia.

Sources

davfi.fr · defimedia.info