There seems to have been an increase in the amount of phishing of late.
A couple of people in my contacts have fallen foul to the Whatsapp scam.
You get a message from a contact on Whatsapp saying:
"Hello I'm sorry, I sent you a 6-digit code for SMS by error. Can you transfer it to me? It's urgent"
and at the same time you get a text message with the 6-digit code.
The code is actually the account retrieval details for your account. If you forward it, the phisher can access your account and contact all your contacts.
Another one that happened last night. I got a facebook messenger message from an acquaintance. Somebody I would know if I met them at home, and I would have been relatively friendly with approx 10 years ago, but not in any sort of contact now.
Conversation went like this
Other Person: Hi NBTD. How are you doing
Me: I'm good thanks, and you
OP: I'm getting along pretty well and I need a favor from you.
Me: I'll try
OP: I need to get an iTunes gift card for my Niece, It's her birthday but I can't do this now because I'm currently traveling.Can you get it from any store around you? I'll pay back as soon as i am back.
Me: Which niece?
No response
I messaged a mutual friend to let her know she's been hacked.
It is pretty obvious but I can see how someone could be fooled by these kind of things