Multiple Faces Detected
October 9th, 2023
We’re all familiar with the most popular messaging app, WhatsApp. Well, Hangouts is a chat app created by Google that has gained popularity in the past few years. Google Hangouts is a great app for connecting with people from across the world, that’s why it attracts millions of monthly users but informationally it attracts many scammers. In this article, we’ll outline what some of these scams are so you can get all of the benefits from this amazing app and non of the downsides.
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What are Google Hangout Scams and How they Start
Although Google hangouts scams mostly take place on the app itself, they tend to begin on other platforms. Scammers engage with people on social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and more, but then quickly move the scam over to Google Hangouts to avoid having their account deleted.
The reason scammers use Google Hangouts as opposed to a regular phone number is that phone numbers can be traced back to them more easily. Also, Google Hangouts allows people to send messages overseas at much lower rates.
Scammers mostly get their victims from social media, with dating apps particularly common. The Catfish scammers, usually using fake accounts, will text you and use romance scams to lure you. They’ll tell you all sorts of sweet things to flatter you. Once you fall for their trickery, they’ll ask you to move the conversation to Google Hangout.
To get started on Google Hangout, one party must save the other person’s contact. Most scammers will ask for your email address first to initiate the conversation. They do this because they carry out multiple scams simultaneously and want to identify you to avoid being exposed.
But why should they go through all this hustle while they can do it on Social media? The majority want to protect their social media accounts. If you become suspicious and report their account, they know it might be deleted. And unlike Hangouts accounts which are easy to create once deleted, creating a fake social media profile is demanding.
Google Hangout scams take time to work. The scammer will text you daily to build trust and make you fall in love. Once they know you’re in love and vulnerable, they’ll start creating emergencies. They use these emergency excuses to ask for money. Since you believe them, you’ll send the money, and before you know it, they’ll have drained your bank account.
How to Tell if a Person Is a Scammer
Sometimes when speaking to a scammer, you can always point out red flags. For instance, scammers lie about their geographical locations. So if there are inconsistencies, say in time of the day, or if the weather they mention differs from where they claim to come from, that should be a red flag.
If you suspect anything unusual in your conversation, even if subtle, you should immediately run a reverse search on them. The search gives you details about the person, including their accounts, pictures, the real owners of the email address, and the phone number they’re using.
You can search them using their name, email, phone, username, image, or address. At least one of these searches should return results that tell who they really are.
Types of Google Hangout Scams
There are many Google Hangout Scams to be aware of to avoid falling victim. Here are three common scams used on Google Hangout;
- Blackmail Scams
Sextortion is a type of blackmail where someone uses explicit photos you’ve sent them against you. The goal of most of these scams is to get you to send them money. Most sextortion scams on Google Hangout begin as romance scams. Usually, you meet a person on a dating site who asks to move the conversation to Google Hangouts for seamless communication. However, the real reason for moving to Google Hangouts is to avoid detection from dating sites and social media platforms.
Once you move to Google Hangouts, they’ll intensify the conversation and get you to send them revealing pictures. At this point, scammers will use the pictures to blackmail you into sending them money, threatening to send the photos to all of your followers on social media.
Another type of sex scam on Google hangouts involves malware. In this scam, instead of saving the pictures, some scammers download malware on your device using the link and ask for money to remove the malware.
2. Job Interview Scams
There are more job scams on Google Hangout than you might think. These scammers target people who are looking for jobs. They pose as a popular work-from-home company and ask to interview you for a position you are interested in. You’ll be asked to take part in a Google Hangout interview.
Instead of the usual Google Hangout to video interview you for this fake job, scammers will message you about the position. The entire interview will be done via messages, after which you’ll be informed that you got the job.
The scammers will claim that as part of the job requirement, you’ll be required to purchase some equipment such as a computer, chair, and other supplies from a specific website. The company will write a check of about $1000 to acquire the equipment for the job. Since the check is fake, it means you use your money to purchase this equipment. Eventually, you pay the scammer for supplies that you don’t get.
A stranger sends you a message on social made purporting to have an investment opportunity that will make you lots of money. The person then asks you to engage them on Google Hangouts to learn more about the opportunity.
Out of curiosity, you continue the conversation on Google Hangout. The scammer will explain they have a low risk, high reward opportunity and how it works. Once they convince you to invest in the opportunity and you send the money over, the scammer will block you on all platforms.
How Google Hangout Scams Can Affect Victims
For the most part, Google Hangout Scammers are after your money and personal details. The scammers will lure you into trusting them so you can send them money. Others will ask for your naughty pictures and use them to blackmail you and ask for money and other favors.
Also, it’s common for scammers to ask you for your personal information. They use your name, address, pictures, account details, social security number, etc., to steal your identity. These fake identities are used for criminal activities.
How to Avoid Google Hangout Scams
Typically, Google Hangout filters suspicious invitations to protect you from Google Hangout Scams. Sometimes spam invitations aren’t filtered. In such cases, you need to block them and report or ignore them. Blocked users can see you online, but they cannot message you.
Here are other ways to avoid falling victim to Google Hangout Scams.
- Don’t accept a stranger’s invitation to move a conversation from social media to Google Hangout for any reason. This is a known tactic most scammers use.
- Never send personal or financial information to strangers
- Don’t click on links sent to you by people you meet online
- Video chat with strangers to know them better and verify their identity
- Don’t receive money on behalf of strangers or convert it into Bitcoin. It’s illegal.
Conclusion
Google Hangout Scams are common and have devastating effects on the victims. Knowing how to identify possible scammers is the best way to thwart their efforts and keep you safe. Social Catfish can help you verify the identity of suspicious people you meet online to avoid being scammed.
