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12th May 2020National: WhatsApp scam message is back offering free beer – what to do if you receive it
WhatsApp users are being targeted by an old scam message that has started to recirculate during lockdown.
This comes as several other scams have begun to circulate online during the pandemic.
What does the fraudulent message say?
Users are receiving forwarded messages which claim to offer free kegs of Heineken beer.
The faux ‘offer’ message is part of a phishing scam, which instructs users to click on a link to a website and enter their personal details to claim the fake gift.
What is a phishing scam?
A phishing scam is a fraudulent attempt to gain sensitive data, including personal information as well as account bank card details, usernames and passwords.
Scammers often impersonate a trustworthy entity, such as a company, bank, or even a government, through electronic communications such as text or email.
When did the bogus message first appear?
The scam first emerged on WhatsApp in 2018, however earlier this month WhatsApp users in Spain began to receive the scam messages, which had falsely claimed the Mercadona supermarket supported the offer.
The scam has now made its way to England, where people have taken to social media to warn others about the scam.
One WhatsApp user took to Twitter to publicly report the hoax and ask for forgiveness:”Free kegs of @Heineken WhatsApp offer is a phishing scam. If I forwarded it to you please accept my apologies”.