How to block spam on WhatsApp.
The popularity of WhatsApp also means it is the platform of choice for people distributing spam and malware. Sometimes, just knowing how to use WhatsApp is not enough to recognize these messages and process them.
Spam messages on WhatsApp contain malicious content that is used to obtain your personal information through your smartphone. WhatsApp spam comes in all shapes and sizes, from online scams to phishing attempts and false ads.
Learn how to detect spam WhatsApp messages and take preventive measures to protect your online privacy while using the app.
How to Identify Spam on WhatsApp
The first step to fighting WhatsApp spam is identifying it among the other messages you receive in the app. Here are some of the most common types of spam messages on WhatsApp and how to detect them.
Bad grammar and spelling mistakes
This may sound a little boring, but spam messages often contain grammatical and spelling errors. Excessive use of emoji should also indicate that the message is spam.
In addition, there are certain words and phrases that senders use that are clear signs of spam. These include a sender claiming to be part of the WhatsApp team, asking you to contact him about an ambiguous problem with your WhatsApp account, or congratulating you on receiving some kind of gift from WhatsApp.
All of these WhatsApp spam messages have one thing in common – a request to reply or forward a message. By paying attention to the wording used in the text, you can avoid scams and spam on WhatsApp.
Messages with suspicious links
You already know that opening a link message from an unknown sender is not a good idea. Most of the spam messages on WhatsApp are messages with malicious links that are used to obtain your login information, your financial information and other valuable personal data.
In this case, the sender needs one of two things: to force you to forward the message to continue spreading malicious links, or to force you to open the link from the message. Keep in mind that scammers can use different approaches to disguise their intentions. For example, you are asked to follow the link that is supposed to install the latest WhatsApp update. This could lead you to a fake site that will try to steal your credentials or other personal information again.
Forwarded messages
In WhatsApp, you can forward a message from one user to another. You can do this by clicking on the message and selecting the forwarding icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
When you forward a message five or more times, WhatsApp adds a double arrow icon instead of a single arrow icon to indicate that it is a frequently forwarded message. These are the messages you should be wary of. Most likely it will be spam.
False Ads
Another form of spam that can be found on WhatsApp is false advertising. They usually contain a promise to get some kind of reward or try out a new WhatsApp feature. The purpose of these misleading messages is to direct web traffic to get more money from ads.
If it’s a message promising new features, rewards, or updates to WhatsApp, it’s best to check the official WhatsApp website before giving the scammers what they want.
Requests to verify your identity
Enabling two-factor authentication is a secure way to protect your online account. This is the recommended security measure for all of your online accounts that contain sensitive data. This is what makes spam WhatsApp messages that try to verify your identity so dangerous.
Under the false pretense of using WhatsApp for two-factor authentication of one of your online accounts, scammers are trying to get your credentials. You should know that you will never receive real 2FA messages through WhatsApp, but you will receive them as a simple SMS code.
What to Do About WhatsApp Spam
Fight WhatsApp spam by keeping track of legal changes and app updates. If you receive a suspicious WhatsApp development message, please check it on the official WhatsApp website or even send a message to WhatsApp support to make sure it is legal.
If you don’t want to deal with spam, you can also adjust your account privacy settings to control your interactions on WhatsApp. To do this, follow these steps.
- Open WhatsApp and go to the WhatsApp menu using the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the screen.
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Select “Settings”.
- From the Settings menu, choose Account.
- Select “Privacy” to specify who can see your personal information.
From there, you can set your privacy settings so that your personal information is visible to everyone (information is available to all WhatsApp users), to my contacts (information is available only to contacts in your address book) or to anyone (you are the only person who can see your information).
How to Report & Block Spam on WhatsApp
When you receive a message from an unknown number that you think is spam, you can report the contact to WhatsApp. To report a contact on WhatsApp, follow these steps.
- Open a WhatsApp chat with the contact you want to report.
- Open the chat menu using the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Select “More”.
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Select Report. You can also block a contact and delete chat messages from the same menu.
If the contact is not in your WhatsApp contact list, at the bottom of your WhatsApp chat you will also receive a box with options to Report, Block, or Add to Contacts.
You can also contact support and report spam. Open the app and follow the path Settings> Help> Contact us.
Fill out the form and provide as much information as possible about the WhatsApp spam message.
Is it Time to Ditch WhatsApp?
Receiving a lot of spam can be annoying. If you are constantly updating your WhatsApp, have kept all your information private, and continue to receive tons of spam WhatsApp messages, it might be time to upgrade to a more secure messaging app.
Do you receive spam on WhatsApp? What method do you use to detect and block spam on WhatsApp? Share your experience with WhatsApp spam in the comments below.
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