Scammers know exactly how to trap you. When a friendly message on social media suddenly moves to WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram, it’s a red flag. Here’s how to spot the warning signs and stay safe.
Why you should not use WhatsApp
ChatGPT
“Kim, I heard the call with the man who lost $60,000 in a crypto scam. You said anytime someone wants to move the conversation to WhatsApp, it’s a scam. Why is that?” — Dennis in Washington
Thanks for the question, Dennis. I’m glad you heard that call. Heartbreaking. And unfortunately, it’s not rare. When someone says, “Let’s move this conversation to WhatsApp,” it’s almost always the beginning of a scam.
By the way, I don’t know if you’re aware that many of these scammers are victims of human trafficking in Myanmar. They’re forced to work in scam compounds where they spend 12 to 16 hours a day targeting people around the world.
If they don’t hit their scam dollar quotas, they’re beaten. So it’s not personal, their lives depend on stealing from people.
📲 App-solutely a trap
Scammers are taught to not be watched. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and even regular old email have systems to detect fraud and spam. You can report messages, block shady profiles and sometimes recover lost money.
WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal are a different story.
These are encrypted apps designed for privacy. Great for your personal life, but also great for criminals. Once the conversation moves there, there are no moderators, no scam detection systems and no help when things go wrong. You’re on your own.
Scammers start where you trust them. Maybe it’s a message from someone who looks legit on LinkedIn. Maybe it’s a friendly DM on Instagram or a Facebook message from someone who says they’re in finance or crypto.
At first, it sounds professional. Then comes the switch:
- “Let’s move this to WhatsApp, it’s easier.”
- “I’ll send you the investment details on Signal.”
- “I only do business on Telegram.”
That’s when the manipulation begins. You’ve stepped off the platform with guardrails and right into their controlled zone. You’re isolated. And once they start asking for your money, there’s no one to step in.
‼️ WhatsApp just got hit with a stealthy spyware attack: No clicks, no links, just boom, you’re infected. If you’re on iPhone or Mac and haven’t updated WhatsApp in the last day, do it now. This one’s next-level sneaky and initially targeted journalists, so don’t wait to find out if you’re next.
Use WhatsApp on your iPad: Yes, it finally works. Download WhatsApp from the App Store, open it and get a QR code. On your phone, go to Settings > Linked devices > Link device and scan the code. Your chats and contacts will sync so you can message or call right from your iPad.
Use ChatGPT on WhatsApp: You don’t need to open the app to prompt. In WhatsApp, go to the Chats screen, tap the green (+) icon, and select New Contact. Set the country code to the United States, enter (800) 242 8478, name it and tap Done. Tap the Message button, and ChatGPT will be verified and ready to go.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Going overseas? Use WhatsApp or Signal for free messaging over Wi-Fi, and skip roaming fees entirely.
💬 Hide your WhatsApp status: Planning a surprise and don’t want everyone to know? When creating a status, tap Updates > Add status. In the bottom left, where it says Status (Contacts), choose My contacts except. Pick who shouldn’t see it, hit Done and your secret’s safe.
💬 Check linked devices on WhatsApp: If you’ve used WhatsApp on Windows, Mac or in a browser, make sure no one’s snooping on your chats. Open WhatsApp, go to Settings > Linked devices and log out of anything that looks suspicious. FYI: WhatsApp also auto-disconnects inactive linked devices after 30 days.
WhatsApp’s new Writing Help: Rewrite your messages in different styles to make them sound more professional, funny (think Kim jokes) or supportive. To try it: Tap the icon on the right of the text, then the pencil icon under your message and select the tone you want.
🚨 Google alert: Hackers sent out 115,000 phishing invites to 13,500 orgs that use the Google Classroom platform. They pitched SEO services, then pushed people to WhatsApp to rope them into scams. Reminder: Always verify the sender, especially when they try to redirect you off-platform. That’s a red flag every single time.
⚠️ Crypto vultures circling: The FBI says scammers are dressing up as lawyers to target people already burned by crypto fraud. They dangle “fund recovery” promises, then demand up-front crypto or gift cards. Victims get dumped into staged WhatsApp groups with fake bankers before losing even more money. These guys make MLMs look like charity work.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: On WhatsApp, you can bookmark any message by long-pressing it and tapping the star icon at the top. Then go to the three-dot main menu and find it under Starred.
Share your location on WhatsApp: Open the chat, tap the Paperclip icon, choose Location, then Share Live Location and hit Send. They’ll get a live-updating map showing where you are.
👀 A note about Google watching your texts: I told you about this yesterday, and the link worked for some people but not all. It’s surprisingly tricky to turn off Google’s Gemini AI text tracking. You’ve gotta manually yank its permissions. Think of it like breaking up with a clingy ex who still has a key. Head to gemini.google.com/apps and toggle the switch off for Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, etc. These might not pop up on your end, yet, but anticipate a rollout sometime before July 7.
🕳️ Google reads your texts: They’re doing it again. Starting July 7, Google’s Gemini AI will tap into your Phone, Messages, WhatsApp and more, even if you’ve opted out of activity tracking. Google calls it “good news.” I found the secret steps to stop this nonsense here. Otherwise, your texts will be stored, scanned and possibly read by a human along with the things, up to and including being sold to who knows who. Not cool.
Chinese pump and dump stocks: Scammers are sliding into DMs and WhatsApp chats, posing as financial advisers. They’ll hype up shares in small Chinese companies listed on the Nasdaq that look promising. The twist? Insiders are manipulating the price. Once you buy in, they cash out, and you lose thousands (paywall link).
🧙♂️ AI pics on WhatsApp: You can now generate images with ChatGPT right inside your chats. Just save 1-800-ChatGPT (aka 1-800-242-8478) to your contacts, then open WhatsApp and say “Hi.” After the bot replies, try something like “Create a picture of a wizard eating a hot dog.” Wait a few seconds, and boom, it’ll pop up.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Going overseas? Use WhatsApp or Signal for free messaging over Wi-Fi, and skip roaming fees entirely.
Scammers are deepfaking finance pros: They’re posting videos impersonating experts like Abby Joseph Cohen, promising to make you rich fast. All you have to do? Join their WhatsApp group for “undervalued” stock tips. Please don’t. Anytime a complete stranger promises you wealth or love and wants to use WhatsApp for a conversation, that is a major scam red flag.