WHATSAPP WARNING

Billions of WhatsApp users warned over ‘very scary’ message that affects everyone this Christmas – do not ignore

Find out below how to help protect yourself from scams

BILLIONS of WhatsApp users have been warned over a "very scary" message that could affect anyone this Christmas.

Mum Kasi Reid, from Coventry, made the warning to other parents after she almost fell victim to a WhatsApp scam.

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The scammer had used WhatsApp to try and steal Kasi's dataCredit: Alamy

She said she was called by a man on the app who claimed to be part of the parents' group at her son's school.

Then, he sent her a code about joining a WhatsApp group to arrange a Christmas party.

However, before she attempted to join is, Kasi luckily spotted the code would have in-fact transferred data between their devices.

She described the idea he could have had access to the entirety of her details on WhatsApp as "very scary".

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The mum said she uses the messaging app for "everything", and that it contains much information about her son as well as her own mum.

After becoming suspicious while still on the phone with the man, she hung up.

This was after she spotted it could have led to all her personal information being shared with him.

Mum Kasi believes it could have been a purposeful effort to scam her.

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She added how it was strange he called during the school rush, something another parent shouldn't have the free time to do at that moment.

Kasi said: "[He was] dependent on me being distracted and me being rushed so I would give [him] the code."

provides guidance on its website for scams.

It advises those who receive a suspicious message or call to report it .

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Earlier this year, WhatsApp rolled out a new triple alert feature to try and help protect against scams.

Now, if you’re added to a group by someone you don’t know, you will now see a context card pop up.

The alert will give you more more information about the group, such as who added you, when the group was created, and who created it.

These three details can help WhatsApp users piece together whether its a group they want to be part of - before they fall for a potential scam.

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From there, WhatsApp users can decide to stay or leave the group.

They can also access some of WhatsApp's safety tools.

Scammers often cast their phishing net far and wide, adding dozens of numbers to a group chat before trying to lure them into a scam.

The ruses themselves are varied, and can be anything from a get-rich-quick scheme to advertising job roles.

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A tell tale sign that a group chat is not for you is if you don't recognise the contact that added you, or the one that formed the chat.

It can also be suspicious if the group was only just created.

Scammers may use WhatsApp to try and steal personal informationCredit: Alamy
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