Your weekly dose of scam-proofing in 3 minutes or less — no fluff, just the latest hacks, scams, phishing attacks, and cyber cons you actually need to know about.

🚨SCAM OF THE WEEK: Fake Business WhatsApp Accounts

What is it?

Scammers clone a real business’s WhatsApp profile — same logo, same name, similar number — and impersonate them. Then they message unsuspecting customers with fake invoices or payment links. The customer thinks they’re talking to the real business… until their money’s gone.

How it works

1. Clone & impersonate:
   Scammers copy your brand identity (logo, name, phone style) and set up a nearly identical WhatsApp Business account.

   
   

2. Target your customers:
   They find your customers via social media comments, leaked contact info, or public testimonials.

   
   

3. Send fake payment instructions:
   They message customers claiming to be you, then share “updated” bank details, payment links, or QR codes. Customers pay. Scammers disappear.
   

Damage control (too late):
You get the blame. Your customer is angry. You look dodgy — even though it wasn’t you.

Why it works

• WhatsApp isn’t verified like a website. 

  People see a logo and a business name and assume it’s legit.

  
  

• Fast-moving conversations: 

  People make payments in chat, on the go, without checking details.

  
  

• Brand trust gets hijacked. 

  If your business uses WhatsApp for sales or support, scammers piggyback on that trust.

  
  

It’s cheap to scale. Scammers can replicate this scam hundreds of times with zero overhead.

 Red Flags for Customers to Watch Out For

• Slightly different phone number than the real business

  
  

• Urgent requests to “pay quickly” before losing out on a deal

  
  

• New payment details that don’t match what you’ve seen before

  
  

Being asked to pay via strange methods: gift cards, crypto, personal bank accounts

How Customers Can Protect Themselves

• Double-check the number. 

  Always confirm you're chatting with the official business line.

  
  

• Call if unsure. 

  If someone messages you asking for payment — call the real business to confirm.

  
  

• Stick to known payment methods. 

  Avoid bank transfers to new accounts unless verified.
  

Look for the green checkmark. 

Verified WhatsApp Business accounts have a green badge (though not every legit business has one — so still confirm).

 How Small Businesses Can Protect Their Customers

• Warn your customers. 

  Add a note to your website, social pages, and WhatsApp Business profile warning about impersonators.

  
  

• Use one official number only. 

  Don’t confuse customers by switching numbers.

  
  

• Get verified on WhatsApp. 

  Apply for the green checkmark through Meta’s Business Manager.

  
  

• Create a secure payment process. Link to a trusted payment gateway — never ask for bank transfers via chat.

Monitor your brand. Keep an eye out for impersonators and report fake accounts immediately.

🔥 ONE-LINER HOT TAKE

If you’re running a business through WhatsApp, it’s not if scammers try to copy you—it’s when. Build your defences before they wreck your rep.

That’s it for this week.

If you’re a customer—ask before you pay.
If you’re a business—don’t make it easy for scammers to play dress-up with your brand.🔥 

Catch you next time,
Dan & the Goldphish Team

📌 P.S. Know someone running a business through WhatsApp? Forward this newsletter before they become the next fake account.