With more than 1 billion active users globally, WhatsApp is arguably one of the most popular messaging applications out there. So many Attempts to hack WhatsApp accounts are quite common. One of such attempts involves social engineering; whereby individuals can be manipulated into giving out confidential or personal information that may be used for fraudulent purposes. Below is a phone call conversation between a WhatsApp user and a cyber-criminal.
**Phone beeps*
Receiver: Hello
Caller: Good evening
Receiver: Good evening
Caller: This is David calling from Abuja Property Market, How is your day going?
Receiver: Fine, Thank you
Caller: OK, Have any of the Admin called you regarding the seminar going on first thing tomorrow morning by 8.
Receiver: No
Caller: OK, this is it …Due, to what, we just ….
We just got a notification on WhatsApp, regarding that we should verify our group chat. So, we decided to create a fresh group chat for our individuals.
Are you with me?
Receiver: Am with you
Caller: So, we are adding each participant from the former platform to the new one now. I just got to your turn, that’s why I called you, OK.
Receiver: OK
Caller: So I will be forwarding you a 6 digit membership code now.
Are you with me?
So don’t give it out to anyone, OK.
Receiver: alright, it’s OK
Caller: Are you using a smartphone?
Receiver: YES
Caller: Ok, you minimize now. And go into your SMS box. You would see a 6-digit membership code.
Don’t give it out to anyone, Ok
So you go there now. And call it out, let me use it to activate you now, Ok
Then, by tomorrow, you are expected to be online
Have you seen it?
Receiver: Have seen it.
Caller: Ok, call it out…
(Brief Pause)
Hello…
Receiver: Yes, am coming, hold on please
So, this code for instance now. What is it for ?
Caller: Ok
That’s what we are going use for add new participant and verify them in our new platform. Cause, we just got a notification from WhatsApp to update our group chat.
And that’s why we doing that now.
I just got to your turn.
That’s why I called, and you are expected to be online tomorrow for the seminar, okay
Receiver: Alright Ok
Hold on, can I call you back?
Caller: (Ahmm) You know we work with time. I just got to your turn. Let me be through and get on to the next person.
Receiver: Ok, go on to the next person
Caller: You are not activating your code now?
Receiver: No, am not activating it now
Caller: Ok, no problem!
**Receiver ends call*
Whoah!! That was a smart move by the Receiver of that call. Giving out that 6-digit pin would have resulted to his/her account being hijacked.
You should Note that;
When you receive a verification pin notification, it means that someone has entered your phone number and requested the registration code. This often happens if another user mis-typed your number when trying to enter their own number to register, and can also happen when someone attempts to take over your account (As in the phone call conversation above).
WhatsApp itself will never contact you through the app. Also, WhatsApp does not send emails about chats, voice messages, payment, changes, photos, or videos, unless you email their help and support to begin with. Anything offering a free subscription, claiming to be from WhatsApp or encouraging you to follow links in order to safeguard your account is definitely a scam and not to be trusted.
Staying secured
You should never share your WhatsApp verification code with others. If someone is trying to take over your account, they need the SMS verification code sent to your phone number to do so. Without this code, any user attempting to verify your number can’t complete the verification process and use your phone number on WhatsApp. This means you remain in control of your WhatsApp account.
Authorize the Two-Way Verification Process
To do this, click on Settings in WhatsApp, select Account, then choose Two-step verification to enter a 6-digit PIN.
Once this is done, WhatsApp will be safe for use and free from hackers.