WhatsApp users are falling victim to a widespread hacking scam. The scam involves hackers gaining access to a user’s WhatsApp account and using it to target their contacts and groups. Ajith Kumar, a public relations professional in Kochi, recently fell victim to this scam.
He created a WhatsApp group for residents of a new flat complex. Soon after, he received a message from someone in the group asking him to forward an OTP number. Ajith sent the OTP without hesitation, not realizing it would lead to his account being hacked.
The next day, a message was sent from Ajith’s hacked account to a senior official at a prominent Kochi bank. The message demanded an urgent payment of Rs 10,000 via UPI. The official became suspicious and asked for account details but did not make the payment.
This is when Ajith and others realized his account had been compromised. Ajith filed a complaint with the cyber police. The growing concern is that hackers can access all groups and contacts linked to the hacked number.
They also gain access to shared messages, pictures, and videos.
Hacking scam targets Kochi residents
Ajith warned his groups and friends that his account had been hacked, but the scammers deleted these messages.
Victims like Ajith are frustrated because they have been unable to resolve the issue despite reaching out to WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta. The cyber police are working to recover Ajith’s account. If they cannot, they will report the matter to Meta for further action.
The scam has been ongoing, prompting police to issue alerts through their social media handles. A senior cyber police officer said people must be cautious and avoid clicking on dubious links or installing unknown apps at someone’s request. The scam employs various tactics.
Sometimes, callers ask for an OTP, claiming it is needed to update the phone’s security lock. Others warn that not updating WhatsApp will defunct the platform. Callers have also requested OTPs to enable a single login for WhatsApp and Facebook.
A police officer in rural Alappuzha recently received three such calls, each using a different approach. He said scammers seem to be inventing new methods to deceive people. While their attempts fail when encountering tech-savvy individuals, many unsuspecting people might fall for their convincing performance.
