Maldita.es launches a service to report and prevent scams in its WhatsApp chatbot

Since we launched the verification chatbot on WhatsApp in 2020, the first in Spanish , we receive daily queries from users who have received fraudulent messages and who have questions about how to protect themselves or what they can do if they have fallen into the scammers’ trap. Hence the initiative to create a specific conversation for those people who believe they have been victims of a scam.

How does it work?

To use it, users only have to save the chatbot number on their mobile phone (+34 644 229 319) and write “Hello”. Among the menu options that will appear, you must select “ Report a scam .”

Users will be able to verify if the suspicious message they have received is a scam and will also receive advice to prevent online fraud and recommendations on how to act if they have been victims of a scam . In this way, they will learn to identify cyberattacks such as phishing , which consists of the impersonation of companies or institutions to obtain our personal data and our money .

This new service is part of the tools that the Maldita.es Foundation makes available to citizens to fight misinformation and scams. Through the WhatsApp chatbot, users can access an interactive course to learn how to detect hoaxes . Maldita.es is also present on WhatsApp Channels with two channels: Maldita.es and Alerta Timo.