Is a number with the area code 091 constantly annoying you with calls on WhatsApp? We’ll tell you who’s behind it and why you shouldn’t answer it.
You should avoid unknown numbers on WhatsApp. (Source: prykhodov/[email protected] / depositphotos.com/Assembly: Netzwelt)
- More and more foreign numbers want to reach you on WhatsApp, including an 091 number.
- Behind this is an attempted fraud from India, the aim of which could be extremely perfidious.
- If you activate a new function in Messenger, the telephone terror will come to an end.
Anyone can contact you on WhatsApp as long as the other person has your number. It can happen from time to time that strangers write to you. These anonymous senders are usually up to no good, as the grandchild trick shows. Currently it is mainly foreign contacts who do not write to you in the chat but instead try to call you.
At the forefront are numbers from India, which you can recognize by the country code +91. But numbers from Indonesia with the country code +62 are also often used. But no one dialed wrong. There is a scam behind this.
The callers use the ping call technology. They give you a quick call and then immediately hang up, hoping that you’ll call back full of curiosity. They try to reach you with both voice calls and video calls.
The target of the scam
It is still unclear what exactly the callers’ intention with the scam is. Because while ping calls are about getting people to call back expensive numbers, calls via WhatsApp are free. This is probably simply an attempt to get in touch with you and gain your trust in order to prepare an attempt at fraud.
How SWR3 According to reports, the criminals could claim, for example, that you have been affected by identity theft, that your account details have been exposed or that a large payment is outstanding.
The approach also has parallels to a nasty trick that fraudsters can use to take over your WhatsApp account.
You fall into the trap if you call the number back. This is intended to order call forwarding from your provider. If the trick works, your calls and text messages will be forwarded to a criminal number. They change the number in your WhatsApp account and hijack it.
Spam calls also from other countries
You don’t just get spam calls like this from India. In recent weeks, numbers from Brazil, Pakistan and other countries have also been used for the trick. In any case, we advise against answering or returning calls. You should also not come into contact with scammers on other messengers.
If you are annoyed by the constant calls, you should activate a new function in Messenger. It mutes calls from unknown numbers. You will still see these in your call list, but you will not be notified of them when they arrive. The tool has been available since June 2023.
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