Avoid WhatsApp scams in UAE: Meta shares tips for identifying fake business profiles

Dubai: UAE businesses have begun increasingly using WhatsApp to connect with their customers. Brands like Carrefour, Dubai Properties, Al Futtaim, and Chaloub Group often use the application to alert customers about ongoing offers, discounts, and deals. Unfortunately, this popularity has also attracted scammers to create fake business accounts to trick users.

Scammers in the UAE are known to impersonate trusted contacts to request sensitive information. To spread public awareness, WhatsApp messaged several users in the UAE an FAQ on how to spot authentic business accounts during the weekend.

Meta’s parent company, WhatsApp, said, “Check for a blue checkmark to chat confidently. Did you know businesses with a badge have been verified by Meta? Your safety is important to us, so we’ve made chatting more securely with businesses easier.”

The little blue badge Meta attaches to accounts – across its various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp – meaning the account has been verified based on their activity on WhatsApp and information or documents they provide to the company.

Some verified accounts are owned by a notable person, brand, or entity, while others are subscribed to Meta Verified. Meta Verified is a paid monthly subscription with features like the verified badge, account support, and impersonation protection.

Meta explained that verified business accounts, like individual accounts, have been authenticated using a multi-step verification process to help users know whether they are chatting with the right business.

“A verified business on a business profile gives customers more confidence when engaging with a business on WhatsApp. The badge means Meta verified the business based on their activity on WhatsApp and documents they provide.” Verified badges are only visible in chats, business profiles, contact cards, and context cards. If you do spot a fake account, do not respond and block the sender.

Here are ways to spot verified businesses:

> Look for the blue badge: The most reliable way to verify an official WhatsApp Business account is to look for the blue verified badge next to the business’s name in their profile. This badge indicates that WhatsApp has confirmed the authenticity of the account. If you don’t see a blue badge, be cautious.

> Examine the account name: Official business accounts often have the label “Official business account” visible in their profile, even if they also have the blue verified badge. Pay close attention to the spelling of the business name. Fake accounts may use slight variations or misspellings to impersonate legitimate businesses.

> Be wary of unsolicited messages: Legitimate businesses usually require you to initiate the conversation. Be suspicious of unsolicited messages from business accounts you haven’t contacted first, especially if they offer deals that seem too good to be true or request personal information.

> Look for spelling and grammar errors: Scam messages often contain spelling errors or poor grammar. Official communications from reputable businesses are typically professionally written and error-free.

> Avoid clicking suspicious links: Be extremely cautious about clicking on links sent by business accounts you are unsure of, especially if the link looks unfamiliar or shortened. These links could lead to phishing websites that steal your personal or financial information.

> Never share sensitive information: Legitimate businesses will rarely, if ever, ask for sensitive personal information like your birth date, address, passwords, credit card details, or bank account information through WhatsApp. Be highly suspicious of any account requesting such details.