Cybercrime is the order of the day. And the more prepared we are to face it, the better for everyone. The reason is clear: given the constant barrage of scam attempts in which we find ourselves immersed, having the maximum amount of information and warning our friends and family is the best thing we can do. And if it has to do with WhatsApp, even more so.
The autonomous police of Catalonia, known as Mossos d’Esquadra, has recently warned of a new scam that they have detected in recent years. In this case, as has been usual in recent months, WhatsApp is the chosen channel to commit their misdeeds by cybercriminals. That they rely on the misinformation and ignorance that users of the application usually have to try to steal your personal data and, depending on the criminal gang, also the bank details.
As with the rest of the scam attempts that usually occur on a daily basis, it is advisable to be alert about any movement that is suspicious. Such as messages from strangers that have a grammatical error, messages that impersonate certain institutions or when we receive verification codes that we have not requested, as has happened in this case. We tell you all the details below and, above all, don’t click if you receive the same or similar message!
No, your WhatsApp has not been hacked
At first, the call is scary. It comes from an unknown number which, in some cases, even has a foreign prefix. To the pick up the call, the person on the other side of it informs us that our WhatsApp number has been hacked and that, to regain control over it, it is necessary to take a series of steps in this regard that allow the application to identify us as its legitimate owner.
Next, they will ask us a verification code that will reach us via SMS. According to cybercriminals, this is a step that is necessary to prove our identity. However, the reality is that if we proceed to give this code, we will automatically stop having access to our WhatsApp account.
The modus operandi is as follows: cybercriminals try to log in with our phone number in the application. When they reach the step where WhatsApp send verification code To prove that that phone number is with us, they call us and show us the speech that we have previously mentioned, as the Police warn.
If we find ourselves faced with this situation, the first thing we have to do is not send the requested information. And, immediately afterwards, proceed to block contact and report it to the Police so that it can be traced and prevent the gang from continuing to operate with impunity.
Avoid scams
As we have previously mentioned, cyber scams are the order of the day. We are continually exposed to receive messages or calls like those described in this article, so it is important to take extreme precautions against any sign that could alert us. In case of doubt, it is always advisable to contact the sender in question to check the veracity about any action that is requested of us: whether it is the presentation of a new service, the request for our bank details for a new promotion or any other request such as the one covered in this article.
In addition, it is advisable not to take calls from telephone numbers that are not known or that have foreign prefixes if we are not expecting any call that could justify this contact.
