Discover Montserrat Editor shares her experience with a recent WhatsApp Scam.
An increase in scams using the popular WhatsApp platform has prompted the Regional Security System (RSS) to send out an alert to the public.
RSS noted that the application, which is the top mode of communication across the Caribbean has recently been the target of numerous nefarious activities which have severely impacted persons who rely on the platform. The organisation said they are working diligently to ensure that citizens of its Member States do not fall victim to the emerging scam.
In a statement issued by the RSS’ Asset Recovery Unit (ARU), all WhatsApp users are urged to remain vigilant and exercise caution when utilising the communication platform. It pointed out that over the past few weeks, unsuspecting victims have received WhatsApp messages from unknown numbers, or numbers purporting to be a WhatsApp support representative, requesting a code received via SMS be sent to the contacting number.
Users are made to believe that the code is required to verify their WhatsApp account. Once this is done, the hackers gain access and control of the victim’s account.
The statement explained that the hackers use the target’s number to send messages to persons in their contact list, requesting money be sent to them via a money remitter. They claim to be stranded overseas and in need of funds to pay for a hotel or to buy an airline ticket. Furthermore, the offenders have also been sending links or codes to these contacts, as a means of soliciting more victims.
“I lost access to my main WhatsApp Business account, recently,” explained Editor of Discover Montserrat, Nerissa Golden. “It was not only frustrating but felt like an invasion of my privacy and that of all of my contacts. People trust you with their telephone number and don’t expect you to abuse it.”
Golden explained that the requests seemed to have been limited to only her contacts with the 664 area code and they were asked to assist her in sending $700 to a ‘friend’ overseas via PayPal as she was not getting through. One business associate, she said, fell victim to it and paid the money.
Other people were also asked to purchase gift cards via ApplePay but refused.
“They bombard all your friends at one time. I received almost 20 messages and emails from contacts within the span of two hours saying they had been hit up for money from my number,” the editor added.
While several persons have been inconvenienced, officials at the RSS ARU have given the assurance that there are steps which persons can take to significantly reduce the risk of falling prey to these criminal actors.
Users should:
• Follow the recommended steps to verify requests;
• Protect your personal information;
• Be cautious with verification codes;
• Report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement agencies;
• Enable two-factor authentication on WhatsApp.
Golden said her number did have two-factor authentication on it, but as she was overseas and unable to receive the verification code, the hackers were eventually able to gain access to the account. “They tried for a week to get me to turn off the authentication – bombarded my email with the official WhatsApp request to turn it off. In going back and forth with WhatsApp, we discovered that after seven days they turn off the two-factor authentication as a fail safe of some sort. And because I hadn’t been able to retrieve the code from the phone service provider in that time, they were able to get in.”
For many Montserratians abroad who maintain their local 664 number, this is especially important. “You either need to have your service on for roaming so you can receive the codes, or someone on island needs to have a physical chip that the number can be connected to so it can receive the codes. This means keeping the number active so it can receive calls when necessary.”
“Yes, WhatsApp can be hacked. What they cannot do, is access your previous conversations or media on their device as that is end-to-end encrypted,” Golden added. “That does give a measure of relief.”
One additional recommendation from our editor is that you pay attention when you receive calls or messages. “Don’t be so distracted that you are not paying attention when you receive the call or message. Do you know the person on the other end and what are they asking you to do? Certainly don’t read out any codes and click on any links.”
Members of the public are encouraged to stay abreast of this trend, and cooperate with authorities, in an effort to combat the issue and prevent these malicious activities from causing further harm.
Source: https://safetysteps.org/2024/12/25/regional-security-organisation-warns-of-whatsapp-scams/
