In the age of instant messaging and digital communication, WhatsApp has become an integral part of our daily lives. We rely on it to keep in touch with friends, family, and colleagues, making it a prime target for scammers looking to exploit our trust and naivety. Recent incidents have shed light on a disturbing trend of WhatsApp account infiltration, leaving individuals vulnerable to financial loss and personal data exposure.
One such incident involved Mr. Louis, who unwittingly fell victim to a scam that started with a simple WhatsApp message from his close friend, Amer Shazally Rosni. Amer had asked for a $3,500 loan and Mr. Louis, trusting his friend, promptly sent the money via PayNow. But the situation took a dark turn when “Mr. Amer” asked for the money to be transferred to another account, claiming he couldn’t access his bank account. Mr. Louis complied, sending another $3,500 to the specified account. It was only when “Mr. Amer” asked for more money that Mr. Louis grew suspicious. He called his friend, only to discover that Amer hadn’t sent any of those messages. Their WhatsApp accounts had been compromised.
This was not an isolated case. The scammer had accessed Amer’s WhatsApp account and messaged seven people in his contacts, asking for money. The scammer even archived the chats to hide them from Amer’s view. Archived chats on WhatsApp don’t appear in the main chat list, making it a perfect hiding place for illicit activities.
Amer and Louis have reported the incident to the police, but the chances of recovering the money they sent to the scammer are slim. Unfortunately, Amer was not the only one affected by this scam. WhatsApp account infiltration cases have been on the rise, with several individuals receiving messages from compromised accounts asking for money.
One key element of these scams is the use of WhatsApp Web. In Amer’s case, he had logged into WhatsApp Web on his laptop, which is a convenient feature for using WhatsApp on a computer. Scammers take advantage of this by infiltrating accounts when users are logged in on the web version. To protect themselves, many people have chosen to avoid WhatsApp Web altogether.
The situation has raised alarm among WhatsApp users, and many have begun sharing their experiences and warnings on social media platforms. For example, local actress Aileen Tan received a WhatsApp message from her “husband” asking for money. Her husband later revealed that the scammer had called his sister in Hong Kong, requesting a money transfer. Another user, Edwin Ker, posted a warning on Facebook after his WhatsApp account was compromised by a scammer who impersonated him and asked for money.
To combat these scams and protect WhatsApp users, the police have offered valuable advice:
- Always use the official WhatsApp Desktop App and the official WhatsApp Web webpage at https://web.whatsapp.com. Avoid searching for WhatsApp Web on online search engines and clicking on unverified links.
- Never share your WhatsApp account verification codes with anyone, even if they claim to be a friend or family member.
- Enable two-step verification on WhatsApp to add an extra layer of security.
- Regularly check your linked devices on WhatsApp to ensure that no unauthorized access has occurred.
In a world where digital communication is essential, staying vigilant is crucial to protect ourselves from WhatsApp scams. By following the advice provided by the police and being cautious about our online interactions, we can reduce the risk of falling prey to these malicious activities. Remember, your security and peace of mind should always come first.
(Source: Yong Li Xuan | The Straits Times)
