The world’s most popular multiplatform messaging app, WhatsApp, is prone to various forms of manipulations aimed to target users of the app.

A new scam is surfacing in which the hacker hacks into your contacts’ account and sends personalized messages in order to have access to your account.

How the scam works

In the WhatsApp OTP scam, the hacker sends a message claiming to be your friend. To grab your immediate attention, the fraudster describes some kind of emergency.

After providing assurance of being your friend, the hacker asks for an OTP. The scammer describes this as an accidental forward. Multiple messages will be sent by them to lure one into forwarding the OTP.

The hacker wants to access your WhatsApp account through OTP validation. The moment you will share the OTP with the fraudster, you will be locked out of your WhatsApp account and the hacker will have the full access to your messages, contacts and groups.

The hacker may also request monetary help from your dear ones. The chain of events gets multiplied once the scammer has access to your account.

Two-factor authentication on WhatsApp comes in handy for users who would want to prevent falling prey to such scams. The rule of thumb to prevent these type of frauds is to never share your OTP or personal information with anyone.

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