9 Wechat Frauds - How to avoid
WeChat and WeChat groups are a very handy tool for networking, however. Learning about these risks and preventive measures, will not only protect your privacy but will keep you safe from any potential fraud.
Firstly, let's understand the scale of WeChat. Tencent reported 700 million active users in 2015, a growth of 39% from the same period last year, if this growth continues at the same pace Wechat will have more than 1.1 billion active users by the end of 2016, makes it the largest of its kind on the planet.
Who uses Wechat?
Above 85% of Wechat users in China are aged between 18-35 years old. This is the generation that used computer in schools, so: Technical savvies. Continue reading...
Gender distribution in WeChat?
Sounds sexist, I'm not sure what's the reason behind that 67.5% of WeChat registered users in China are males.
Now the BIG QUESTION, How does fraud happen in Wechat?
1) Through your stolen mobile
The fraudster will use your Wechat account, link the account with his/her mobile number/email, then contact friends and family members asking for money pretending they are you.
2) The Changing Account - Fraud
Your friend will contact you one day saying this is his/her new Wechat account, their Wechat photo and albums will look relevant too.
The fraudster through knowing Wechat information of your contacts, used another Wechat account to match your friend's account and photos, then contact you later and to ask for money.
3) Fake account - Fraud
Someone will suddenly add you from nowhere; they normally look elegant, rich and classy; have a decent conversation for days or weeks. After a while they will claim a cash problem, surgery, cancer and ask for money.... you know the rest.
4) Commission buying - Fraud
The fraudster will claim to be a seller of certain goods from overseas at a discount price or special offer, afterward, goods got caught by the customs and you need to pay the custom duty, otherwise both of you are in trouble, after you pay... hardly anyone receive the goods.
5) Trojans Fraud (Through QR codes)
Some Wechat shops (Wechat accounts selling goods online) or while in the groups, someone might send a QR code to pay for a product or to earn money, when scanning the QR code it will download a Trojan file (Virus) into your mobile that will steal your Wechat account name and password and send it to a third party who will control your account later. QR codes are links, everytime you scan it, you are authorizing your mobile to download or browse a certain page or site or file, so never scan a QR code from a non-reliable source.
6) Sign-up Fraud
Someone in a WeChat gorup will send a link promising a gift or a prize for signing up or 'liking' a page or a link, then you will be asked to submit registration information like your mobile number and other details through a sign-up form. The Fraudster will use this as a protective skin to collect the maximum number of info, the online shop will suddenly disappear. Your mobile no, Wechat account and other personal info can be used in other frauds mentioned here.
7) Recruitment or Service Fraud
The fraudster will claim to be an employer or hitching a ride or a date, they will take you to a certain place then do: Robbery, rape, or let you pay the date excessive bill.
8) Official-Account look-alike Fraud
The fraudster will register a Wechat account with a name similar to one official account or brand, something like "Social Welfare Query" or "OMEGA", then start sending you updates regarding social Welfare or OMEGA watches, one day they ask you to make an urgent payment otherwise your social welfare will be degraded or expired...got it?
A reliable official account should have Tencent Certification Tag on its page, like the checked orange circle inside the red frame. Such accounts are registered under a company name and traceable by the law. Other accounts without this tag belong to individuals and not traceable.
9) Conspiracy Fraud.
While searching for people around, you find a hot girl or a someone wants to learn your foreign language, they claim to be single, you go together for a date or you get caught in the bedroom by the police or husband (The Fraudster friend) and ask you for money. In lighter versions you exchange photos with the fraudster who later ask for money in return for not making you a nude star.
About WeChat Payment:
I saw many expats freaking out when Wechat asks to link a bank card when joining a WeChat group, here's the deal:
WeChat supports payment and money transfer. WeChat Payment is competing with Alipay. As of March 2016, WeChat Payment has over 300 million users worldwide. To put this into perspective, Paypal, the largest online payment service outside China has 173 million users by the end of 2015.
So don't freak out when WeChat asks to link a bank card, this is their growth strategy and a way to ensure big groups don't have fake accounts. Any account that links a bank card means it's traceable. If you are paranoid like me, use a bank card with $1 balance or an old bank card. In some cases you need to go to the bank with your ID or passport to activate that service. There's no fraud related to linking a bank card in WeChat.
Conclusion
To avoid Wechat fraud :
Never scan QR codes from non-reliable sources.
Hide your album photos from strangers and public.
Don't trust strangers you add or add you and drag you into dates or car ride or payments..etc
Don't lose your mobile, make sure to link your Wechat to your email and mobile, this allows you to recover your account.
Don't believe anyone asking for money in Wechat, even your relatives and family members, confirm their identity by a phone call or other ways.
Don't provide your telephone no and personal details to online platforms or strangers on WeChat.
No one can spend your money in Wechat without your password, so you know what to do.