The scam involves fraudsters posing as members of the group and requesting a unique password.
Online scam experts have issued a warning for WhatsApp users to be alert following a series of reports of a new scam tricking people using the group messaging feature. With over two billion monthly active users, WhatsApp is now a happy hunting ground for cybercriminals looking for personal information.
Britain’s national cybercrime center, Action Fraud, warned that there have been more than 630 reported cases this year of fraudsters infiltrating group chats by pretending to be legitimate members and urging users to hand over sensitive information.
Experts warn WhatsApp users to be aware of messages sent in group chats that are unsolicited or suspicious. If a user is receiving this type of message, it could mean someone is running a scam. Therefore, it is important to be alert every second and take the matter to the appropriate authority so that data leakage can be avoided.
How Fraudsters Deceive Users
According to a release by Action FraudThe scam usually starts when a group member receives a WhatsApp audio call from the fraudster, pretending or claiming to be another group member. The fraudster will then tell the victim that they are sending them a one-time password, which will allow them to join an upcoming video call with group members. In fact, the criminal is asking for a registration code to register the victim’s WhatsApp account on a new device so that they can take control of their account.
Once the fraudster has access to the victim’s WhatsApp account, they will activate two-step verification, which will make it impossible for the victim to regain access to their account. Other members of the group, or friends and family in the victim’s contacts, will receive messages asking them to transfer money urgently as they desperately need help.
“With more than 630 reports already this year, we are asking users, and in particular those who participate in large group chats on WhatsApp, to be vigilant and monitor who participates in the chats,” said Detective Superintendent Gary Miles, head of National Fraud Intelligence. City of London Police Office said.
Reacting to reports of the scam, a WhatsApp spokesperson said: “All personal messages sent on WhatsApp are protected by end-to-end encryption, but we can all play a role in keeping our accounts safe.”
“We recommend that all users set up two-step verification for added security and advise people to never share their six-digit PIN code with others, not even friends or family.”
“If you receive a suspicious message (even if you think you know who it is from), calling or requesting a voice note is the quickest and simplest way to verify that someone is who they say they are.”
As of July 2023, WhatsApp has around 2.78 billion active users worldwide. The messaging app reached 2 billion users in 2020 and is expected to reach 3.14 billion by 2025.
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