Gardaí in Clare are warning people to be on the lookout for a scam on WhatsApp, that sees hackers posing as a friend or member of a group you’re in.
It involves conversational messages being sent to a person’s account around the same time the app sends a six-digit code, as the criminals attempt to log into your phone.
They then claim they sent the code by accident and ask you to forward it, which ultimately gives them access to your account and allows them to lock you out.
Clare’s Crime Prevention Officer says the criminals involved will then use your phone to steal more accounts and perpetrate fraud.
Sergeant Triona Brooks says the following steps can help prevent that.
– Set up a two-step verification to give an extra layer of protection to your account. Tap Settings >Account<Two step verification>Enable.
– Stop, Think, Call – if a family member or friend makes an unusual request on WhatsApp, always call the person to confirm their identity.
– Never share your account’s activation code (that’s the 6 digit code you receive via SMS)
– You can report spam messages or block a sender within WhatsApp. Press and hold on the message bubble, select ‘Report’ and then follow the instructions.
