Today, the editorial experts want to warn readers against a WhatsApp message that is spreading like wildfire in these days of celebration, so much so that it has been renamed with the name of “Christmas scam”. Already last October 28 the arrival of a message similar. But in these days of celebration it seems that the reports have increased significantly, perhaps also due to the lockdown imposed during the Christmas period.
So it is necessary to pay close attention to the WhatsApp scam message that many are receiving.
The mechanism
The scam mechanism is well devised therefore it is easy to fall into deception even if you are an expert. Therefore the hacker sends the message to the victim’s mobile phone from a cloned contact in their address book. The victim receives a 6-digit code via SMS from a known number. At the same time, the hacker, using the WhatsApp profile of the same cloned contact, will send the following text “Hi, I sent you this 6-digit code by mistake, can you send it back to me?”.
Experts warn that if you reply to this message, then sending the 6-digit code, the hacker takes possession of the account, thus becoming the owner of our profile and personalized settings. Therefore, he will be able to access the telephone numbers of the participants in the group chats, even though he cannot see the contents of the chats. The hacker will use the contacts obtained to repeat the same scam.
What to do if you fall for the scam
If unfortunately you happen to fall into this trap, we suggest you quickly uninstall the WhatsApp application and then proceed to restore it as happens when you change your phone.
How to avoid this scam
You can avoid falling into the scam by changing your phone settings. Therefore, in the drop-down menu relating to account security, select the option “Show security notifications”, then proceed to activate the function.
Hackers need to get hold of profiles to perpetuate even serious illegal actions while remaining unknown and therefore unpunished. While the victim of the scam will be forced to answer for any damages.
We have therefore tried to provide useful information so that you pay attention to the WhatsApp scam message that many are receiving. We suggest sharing this news with loved ones to stop the spread of this illicit mechanism that is spreading like wildfire.
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