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Here's how this simple WhatsApp scam works and how you can protect your account from hackers.
The trick seems akin to the WhatsApp OTP scam that emerged last year in April. Let's take a look at how this new simple WhatsApp scam works and how you can protect your account from such shenanigans.
Explaining how the new scam works, Sasi said, 'While there are hundreds of scams, I want to highlight this specific one because of its simplicity. The simpler and shorter the ruse, the more successful the scam.'
To execute this hack, the attacker calls the victim and convinces them to dial "**67*<10 digit number> or *405*<10 digit number>". Once the target has dialed the number, they're logged out from their WhatsApp account, and the attacker has complete control over it.
"Once the hacker gets access to the account, they request the victim's contacts for money. In this manner, the attacker defrauds the victim's WhatsApp contacts even before the victim realizes that they have lost control of their account. Since service providers across the globe use numbers that begin with '67' or '405', victims are wont to place the call without hesitation," said Rahul Sasi.
This isn't a new trick in the books of scammers. There have been several similar forms of a cyberattack on other platforms reported in the past. The best way to stay protected from such threats is to enable 2-step verification on your WhatsApp account and set up a password or PIN to log in.