Momo Challenge: that's the reason

Chain letters and challenges appear on WhatsApp from time to time. One of them is the Momo Challenge. We'll show you what's behind it.

Momo: From WhatsApp chain letter to challenge

The Momo Challenge started as a chain letter.

• Chain letters were initially sent from WhatsApp from the Momo account. The recipient was asked to forward the letter to 13 other accounts. If that didn't happen, Momo - a creepy figure - would be in the recipient's room in the evening.
• A challenge then developed from the chain letter. It is no longer just a matter of forwarding a message. The recipient is said to perform various tasks such as self-harm. At the end of the challenge is suicide - the last task.
• If the tasks are not fulfilled, the Momo account threatens with terrible consequences for the recipient's environment.
• The recipient numbers were probably generated by sending the chain letter.
• If you receive a message from Momo and reply to it or save the number, other Momo accounts can access your number.
• The main target group for the Momo Challenge are children and young people. Therefore, you should definitely talk to your children about the Momo Challenge and explain to them that Momo is a fake and nothing happens if they do not follow the prompts.
• If you get a message from Momo, it's best not to respond to it. Do not reply, do not forward the message and do not save the number.

Who is Momo and how dangerous is the challenge?

The police classify the challenge as very dangerous.

• In France and Argentina, the challenge has probably claimed its first victims. In the two countries, young people had committed suicide after apparently being in contact with the Momo account for a long time.
• The first Momo account probably originated in Japan. There are now Momo accounts in Argentina, Colombia and Mexico that send the messages with an unknown number.
• So far, only the chain letter from Momo has arrived in Germany. But it is probably only a matter of time before the challenge arrives.
• Momo accounts always use the same picture: A creepy, distorted face of a girl with googly eyes. Behind the picture is actually a sculpture by a Japanese artist. In the original, the figure even has huge crow's feet.
• The sculpture represents an ubumetori. It is a figure from Japanese mythology. One could translate "Ubumetori" with "child snapping bird".

You can find out what is behind the What the Fluff Challenge in our next article.