On December 16, the WeChat Security Center officially issued a document clarifying and reminding the latest "charging for password-free payment functions" scam. Officials said that recently, fraudsters have impersonated staff from the "Secrecy Bureau", "Online Banking Backstage", "Platform Customer Service" and other staff, contacted victims through unfamiliar phone numbers, and lied that the "secret-free payment" function of WeChat, Alipay and other platforms has been activated or associated with automatic deduction services. If it is not turned off, fees will be continuously deducted.
The victim is then guided to visit a designated URL to download malware with screen sharing or remote control capabilities. Once installed, fraudsters can remotely control the victim's mobile phone (often with a black screen), and induce them to perform key operations such as facial recognition authentication, inputting bank card passwords, and SMS verification codes, thereby stealing funds from the account.
In this regard, the official reminder: WeChat Pay’s “password-free payment” function itself does not charge any fees. Never enable "screen sharing" with strangers or download apps from unknown sources. Once you discover that you have been cheated, immediately freeze your bank card and call the police, and keep call records, software names and other evidence.
It is worth mentioning that the activation, management and closure of WeChat’s password-free payment service can only be completed by the user himself within the platform. Any behavior that claims to be able to close it on your behalf or guide you to operate through third-party software or links is a scam.
