Venezuelan media outlets are being impersonated on WhatsApp to request verification codes
Between July 21 and August 16, 2023, unidentified individuals used the brand identities of Red Digital Noticias, Correo del Caroni, Radio Fe y Alegria Noticias, and Que Pasa En Venezuela on WhatsApp to contact readers or members of broadcast groups and request verification codes. The source has not confirmed that any accounts were compromised.
Overview
Missing evidence
Impact details
Identities were impersonated on WhatsApp to request verification codes or personal information from readers and group members. No account takeovers, system compromises, or data exposures have been confirmed.
Classification & severity
- Category
- Fraud
- Subtype
- Phishing
- Confidence
- High
Impersonation on WhatsApp was used to request verification codes or personal information from readers and group members.
Severity assessment
Medium- Functional impact
- None
- Information impact
- Credentials
- Affected scope
- Organization-wide
- Critical service
- None
- Public confidence
- Limited
- Recoverability
- Regular
There have been repeated phishing attempts targeting media communities through requests for WhatsApp verification codes, but sources have not confirmed any account takeovers or service disruptions.
Timeline
Red Digital Noticias reports attempts at identity theft on WhatsApp using the media outlet’s identity to obtain personal information or verification codes.
Correo del Caroni and Radio Fe y Alegría Noticias report attempts at identity theft on WhatsApp targeting members of their news groups.
The WhatsApp account “¿Qué pasa en Venezuela?” uses its identity and contacts group members in an attempt to impersonate the account.
Voces del Sur / IPYS Venezuela publishes a consolidated report on identity theft on WhatsApp targeting various media outlets.