I consider myself quite tech-literate, but I don't really understand what is going on to get these messages and therefore need some assistance.
The last few weeks (since the beginning of December) I have received multiple Whatsapp messages from unknown Chinese numbers, in English. They address me by the same/ similar names, always asking if I can deliver some kind of work project to them ASAP. At first I would say they had the wrong number, it would go back and forth for a few messages when it seemed like there might be a language barrier or the person was convinced I was the right person. I would then end the conversation by explaining clearly in Chinese, which I (luckily?) can speak, although I haven't had many ties there for a number of years so I don't think it is the case that someone has accidentally passed on my number. The last time this happened was between Christmas and New Year.
At the same time, I've recently started to receive spam text messages from Swiss email addresses. They're not typical 'click here' link messages - one seemed like it was someone advertising their self published book, and the other was a job advert.
I've had this number for years and when I Google it it doesn't seem like it has been posted anywhere (other than the normal websites which list every possible mobile number, which has always been there). I never received any spam until December.
Does anyone have any ideas how I stop the spam? Is this normal spam that I've just been lucky to avoid?