WhatsApp users: stay away from this message or get hacked

A new scam is spreading on WhatsApp. This new scam is different from previous ones and hence a warning is issued for WhatsApp users to stay away from this scam. Scams on WhatsApp are not a new thing. We have seen many dangerous ones in the past. Mostly these messages are phishing attacks that take your login data, and now a majority of people are aware of these hacks. But the latest one is far more dangerous, as it comes from your own contact.

Imagine getting a message from your own family member or friend. Not only you will be excited to see what the message is but also trust it as it comes from your own contact. But this message is not an ordinary message, and it can be used to hack you. You will first get an SMS text with a code and a link. Then you will receive a message from your contact asking what is the code you received in the SMS text. And if you send the code, your WhatsApp will be hacked.

Now you must be wondering, how was the hacker able to get access to your contact’s account? Well, it’s because they have been hacked with the same method. To login to your WhatsApp, there is not an email nor a password. WhatsApp sends an OTP code to your phone number, and that’s how it verifies your identity. If someone else knows this OTP code, then they can access your account and can use it to scam your contacts, including family members and friends.

How to prevent this new Whatsapp scam?

If you received a message from your contact asking for an OTP (One Time Password), then first of all don’t panic. Contact the person through phone call and tell them that their WhatsApp has been hacked. They should immediately log in to their account, and this will kick out the hacker. Secondly, turn on the 2-factor authentication on your Whatsapp account. If you turn on the 2FA, then you can enter a custom pin that you will have to enter to log in to your account. This will make your account more secure. Also, make sure to share this article with friends and family as this scam is at the peak, and it is important to be aware of these scams.

Read also: WHATSAPP IN DANGER: SIGNAL IS THE FASTEST GROWING APP!