In light of a recent rise in WhatsApp account takeovers, Action Fraud advises users to adhere to three essential safety measures. Cyber criminals are gaining unauthorized access to accounts, sending fraudulent messages, and even locking out the legitimate users to prevent them from alerting others about the compromise.
Typically, these attacks begin with a request for the account’s activation code, which is then exploited to log in without permission. To combat this trend, Action Fraud emphasizes the importance of implementing two-step verification on WhatsApp accounts. This security feature ensures that no one can access the account without verification on a secondary device, allowing users to thwart unauthorized login attempts promptly.
Enabling two-step verification is straightforward: users can navigate to Settings > Account > Two-step verification > Enable within the WhatsApp app. Additionally, users are urged not to share any activation codes received via SMS, as divulging this information provides hackers with an avenue to infiltrate the account and send deceptive messages.
Action Fraud also advises users to exercise caution when receiving unusual requests from contacts and suggests verifying the identity of the sender through a phone call. This precautionary measure is especially relevant amidst the prevalence of scams like the “Hi mum” scheme, which aims to deceive individuals into sending money under false pretenses.
As a final reminder, users are encouraged to maintain updated and secure versions of the WhatsApp application to safeguard against potential security breaches. By staying vigilant and following these guidelines, users can enhance the security of their WhatsApp accounts and protect themselves from falling victim to cyber fraud.