Although cybercriminals are constantly renewing their tactics, on many occasions they also have to go back to the past and recover some of the strategies that have worked so well in the past. Luckily, organizations like INCIBE alert us of all their movements so that we always take extra caution. In this case, it would be the hitman scam that, now, is once again a danger for our cell phones.
In its quest to try to steal our data, our money or, in the worst case, both at the same time, the INCIBE has detected the resurgence of one of the classics in the field of scams. It would be what is known as the hitman/pimp scam and its modus operandi is not far from the rest of the scams that have been detected lately. On this occasion, using WhatsApp as a means of contact with us.
In this case, its target audience is all those users who visit and interact, occasionally or habitually, with adult content websites and for appointments. Below we tell you all the details to avoid falling into it.
Pay attention to your WhatsApp
As we have already mentioned, the communication route used It is our WhatsApp account. Through this application we will receive a message from an unknown number stating that we have wasted one of their workers’ time during the last few days or weeks. And that this situation has caused significant economic losses that need to be recovered. At all times, as INCIBE warns, the sender identifies himself as the coordinator of a brothel or similar and is responsible for ensuring that all accounts are well controlled.
During the exchanging messages with him, If we choose to answer, we will be asked to pay a large amount of money in exchange for forgetting about the issue. In the event that we respond with a negative or even do not respond, the threats will begin that will consist of all types of warnings: the most common being that of sending a hitman to our house or to the house of our relatives, with clear intentions to kill us. kidnap us or cause any type of physical harm.
Accompany the threat with images
In order to make the entire threat campaign more credible, the sender will also accompany them with all kinds of images which can include a wide variety of graphic documents: bodies with some type of mutilation, photographs of weapons, thugs with their faces uncovered or any other element with similar characteristics.
As has been detected, the modus operandi to capture our data is very simple. The cybercriminal gang publishes fake ads on dating or pornography websites to facilitate sexual encounters with other people. The moment we become interested in this type of advertisement and leave our phone number or email address, the extortion campaign begins.
To avoid falling into this type of scam attempts, INCIBE warns that We don’t have to follow the directionse no WhatsApp message or call, no matter how terrifying the threats are. Furthermore, from the moment the first contact occurs, it is recommended that let’s report the number and, subsequently, we block it to avoid having more contacts. Finally, in the event that the scam persists, it is important to gather all possible evidence to be able to formalize a face-to-face complaint with the State Security Forces and Bodies.
