WhatsApp, one of the most popular messaging applications in the world, is the target of a new scam that is spreading rapidly. To prevent your WhatsApp account from being at risk, it is important to be aware of this latest scam and take steps to protect your data.
The scam works as follows: you receive a message on WhatsApp from someone pretending to be part of the messaging platform’s support team. However, this message comes from an unknown number, which should initially raise suspicions.
The message states the following:
Hello, Dear customer; we are the WhatsApp support team.|We have detected unusual activity on your account. We need to verify and confirm that you continue to use the account. Next steps: Send the word (done). You will receive a confirmation message. (Send the code here). (Do not open WhatsApp for a full hour.)
If you reply to the message by saying “done,” the scammers will try logging into your WhatsApp account on a new device. WhatsApp will send you a verification code for this process. If you share that code with scammers, they can access your account, change your details, and all your information, including photos, videos, card numbers, and documents. In the worst-case scenario, you could lose your WhatsApp account completely.
The scam also advises you to wait to open WhatsApp for an hour, giving scammers enough time to access your account and collect sensitive information. However, when you open WhatsApp again, it will ask you for the verification code again, giving the impression that nothing has happened.
To avoid this type of scam, it is essential never to trust messages from strangers. WhatsApp support will not communicate this way and will never ask you for a verification code. Sharing this code may put your account at risk. Security on WhatsApp is essential, and protecting your verification code is one of the best practices to keep your data safe.
