Scammers now defraud their victims by using Palmpay accounts to prey on people who relocate abroad.
Here’s how it works:
The scammers create a WhatsApp account with your information when you move out of the country and then open a bank account in your name using @palmpay_ng (apparently they don’t verify accounts).
They search your Instagram comments for people who engage the most with your posts and then wait until it’s dark wherever you are before reaching out to these people on WhatsApp for assistance.
They do not hack your WhatsApp account to accomplish this, and no 2FA can prevent it.
They create a new account with your name and photo.
They find these victims by looking at your social media engagements and sending messages to your followers who engage the most with your posts some of these people you might never have met in person or spoken to on WhatsApp.
One of the victims of this scam found something in common with all the people they contacted and this was that they were Instagram friends who frequently commented on the victim’s posts.
If your followers request more proof, they will block them and move on to the next.
To make it more credible, they use an account number that matches your name; this account was created with @palmpay_ng.
How to Avoid Falling for This Scam
1. Ask for proof as much as possible to ensure that you are conversing with the right person.
2. Avoid sending money to accounts that you are unfamiliar with, particularly @palmpay ng and any quick account opening platforms.
Source: Twitter/@thetobigeorge
