Parents beware: Scammers hijack students' WhatsApp accounts for fake youth exchange programmes, AI courses; over $18,000 lost
Scammers are hijacking WhatsApp accounts to impersonate students and deceive parents into paying for fake youth exchange programs and AI courses. Police report at least eight cases with over $18,000 in total losses.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing sophistication of social engineering scams that exploit digital trust and parental concern.
Parents, take note. If you've not heard your child mentioning a youth exchange programme or an artificial intelligence (AI)-related course, but you suddenly receive a message asking for payment to secure a place, stop and verify the request first.
In a news release on Monday (Sept 28) night, the police said that they have received at least eight reports of such cases since September, with total losses amounting to about $18,000.
According to the police, scammers gain access to students' WhatsApp accounts and impersonate them to contact their parents.
They would then claim to have been selected for a youth exchange programme or AI-related course, and request payment to secure a place.
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