BEWARE: New WhatsApp SCAM claims you can win free Emirates flights
WHATSAPP users are being targeted in a scam which offers the chance to win free flights with Emirates.
Express.co.uk – WhatsApp Tips and Tricks
After clicking on the link in the WhatsApp message users are directed to a fake Emirates website
The scam targets users of the online messaging service by prompting them to fill out a ‘fast survey’.
After clicking on the link in the WhatsApp message, users are then directed to a fake Emirates website.
The bogus site asks a number of questions in its survey, before prompting participants to share it with 10 more WhatsApp users to claim their fake prize.
Once they’ve done this, the user is directed to a new webpage where they have to confirm their details for the chance to receive the two free Emirates flights.
WhatsApp and Emirates have been targeted by a scam offering users free flights
But this step is actually signing them up to a premium message number.
The cost of this number is charged to the user’s phone bill.
After this step, they’re directed to a new page, with the message: "Thank you for attending the survey. You did not win, try again better luck."
Prevention of Fraud in Travel (PROFIT) has warned all WhatsApp users against the scam involving the unwitting Dubai-based airline.
Express.co.uk has contacted WhatsApp and Emirates for comment.
WhatsApp users are being sent a message about free Emirates flights through an online survey
It’s the second time in a week that the popular messaging service has been targeted by scammers.
It then went on to warn users that the only way to stop the daily fee was to forward the message to "at least 10 contacts”.
This allegedly showed WhatsApp the recipient was an avid user and once sent to the contacts their WhatsApp logo, which is usually green, would turn blue and their messages would remain free.
WhatsApp users are offered the chance to win two free Emirates flights if they send the link on
WhatsApp did charge for its service but this fee was dropped last year with the firm saying: "WhatsApp will no longer charge subscription fees.
“Over the next several weeks, we'll remove fees from the different versions of our app and WhatsApp will no longer charge you for our service."
Giving advice on how to avoid such hoaxes, WhatsApp suggested users don't interact with messages that instruct you to forward the message on, those which promise rewards or any which claim to be from WhatsApp itself.
The company said: ”We always advise you to block the sender, disregard the message and delete it.”