Cyber Criminals Target WeChat Users, Blackmail Victims By Asking For Explicit Photos

WeChat, the popular Chinese messaging platform, is currently being targeted by cyber criminals and scam artists, according an NYPD notice distributed by Asian Community United Society today.

The Police Department says it has seen an increase of reported incidents related to the app, which is often described as China’s version of WhatsApp and is commonly used in Brooklyn’s Chinese-speaking enclaves.

In each case, the victim communicates with a person he or she meets on WeChat, and believes that the person on the other side of the chat wants to be friends, according to the notice. The con artist then persuades the victim to share his or her personal information and may try to set up a dates to meet their victim at a location of their choice.

In some cases, the con artist will ask victims to send them explicit photos of themselves, and when they do, the con artist will message or call them threatening to expose them on the internet, report them to their school, or threaten to harm them or their family if they don’t wire money, gift cards, etc.

The NYPD’s Crime Prevention Unit has shared some safety guidelines for WeChat users:

Social networking means opening up and sharing information online with others, but there’s some information you should never share online. Protecting yourself from sharing too much information can save you from identity theft and even protect your physical safety.

So let’s start with the obvious: Never share your social security number (including even just the last 4 digits), your birth date, home address or home phone number. Of course, you should protect all of your passwords, PIN numbers, bank account and credit card information.

If someone threatens you in any form:

• STOP all communication right away.
• Do not respond.
• Go to your settings and block any messages from that person or number.
• Threats or unwanted information by the perpetrator is meant to put fear in you and torment you to give into their threats or demands.
• Do not send any money, gift cards or give out your bank account information or agree to meet anyone.
• Do not delete any messages from this person, the Police will need it to investigate and prosecute the perpetrator.

WeChat users should also be wary of WeChat’s distinctive location-based services which can be very dangerous if used in the wrong hands. WeChat’s “Look Around” add on, for example, allows you to see a list of other WeChat nearby users so that you can ask them to become your WeChat friends. The list of people is arranged from nearest to furthest and even details how close each of these WeChat users is to you. This makes it easy for someone to stalk another person.

Another feature, “Shake,” also allows people nearby to identify your exact location, as long as you shake your mobile phone at the same time they do.

Today’s mobile devices are as powerful and connected as any PC or laptop. Take the same precautions on your mobile device as you do on your computer with regard to messaging and online safety.

Remember, if you become a victim of a crime, call 911.