New WhatsApp Scam Hijacks Accounts: Here’s How to Stay Safe
New WhatsApp Scam Hijacks Accounts: Here’s How to Stay Safe
A new WhatsApp scam is locking users out of their accounts, leaving them without access to messages, contacts, photos, and important files. Worse, once hackers gain control, they exploit the victim’s account to target friends and family using the same deceptive tactic.
How the WhatsApp Scam Works
Cybercriminals are using a social engineering technique to manipulate victims into revealing their One-Time Password (OTP). They impersonate trusted contacts to gain access to accounts. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the scam:
- The Initial Contact: The victim receives a WhatsApp message from a known contact, claiming an OTP was sent by mistake. The sender asks the victim to forward the OTP.
- The Deception: Since the message appears to come from a trusted friend or family member, the victim unknowingly shares the OTP.
- The Account Takeover: With the OTP, the scammer gains full control of the WhatsApp account, locking the real owner out. They then repeat the process with the victim’s contacts.
What’s Really Happening?
This scam is a form of phishing, where hackers exploit users’ trust and lack of awareness. In reality, the hacker has already hijacked the sender’s WhatsApp account and is using it to deceive new victims. The attacker generates an OTP linked to the victim’s phone number and tricks them into sharing it, effectively transferring control of the account.
By the time victims realize they’ve been hacked and report the issue to Meta or the police, the attacker may have already compromised multiple accounts.
How to Protect Yourself from WhatsApp OTP Scams
To avoid falling victim to this scam, follow these security measures:
Never share OTPs with anyone – not even close friends or family. OTPs are confidential security codes meant only for you.
Ignore unexpected OTP requests – If you receive an OTP that you didn’t request, let it expire instead of sharing it.
Verify with contacts through another platform – If a friend asks for an OTP, call or message them outside of WhatsApp to confirm if they actually sent the request.
Enable Two-Step Verification – Adding an extra security layer in WhatsApp settings can help prevent unauthorized access.
Report suspicious activity – If you suspect someone is compromised, report the issue to WhatsApp support and warn your contacts.
Final Warning
If you receive an OTP message you weren’t expecting, ignore it. Do not click on any links or download any attachments. Hackers rely on urgency and trust to trick victims—stay alert and safeguard your WhatsApp account.
For more cybersecurity updates and scam alerts, stay tuned.
