Wangiri attacks on traditional cellular networks are expensive to scale. Because of this, illicit operations have shifted their focus to over-the-top (OTT) encrypted messaging apps, making WhatsApp spam calls the dominant delivery method across 2025 and 2026.
Fraudulent syndicates purchase virtual Pakistani numbers in bulk, upload corporate headshots or AI-generated business logos, and launch coordinated outreach campaigns. These interactions typically abandon the one-ring toll model in favor of social engineering schemes:
First comes the remote employment trap. Victims receive an unsolicited text or voice note offering flexible work, promising $200 to $500 per day for rating hotels, liking YouTube clips, or reviewing products. Once hooked, victims are moved to private Telegram groups where they must deposit their own money into fake cryptocurrency escrow portals to unlock their accumulated "earnings."
Second is the video call extortion play. Fraudsters initiate unexpected WhatsApp video calls from a +92 prefix. If the user picks up, the screen briefly displays pre-recorded adult content or compromised imagery while capturing the user's face via screen recording software. Within minutes, the caller sends frantic messages threatening to distribute the edited video to the victim's social media contacts unless an immediate extortion fee is paid.
