A new text scam is circulating in parts of Europe, posing a threat to WhatsApp users. The scheme involves receiving a message from a friend urging you to vote for their acquaintance in a contest. If you click the link provided in the message and provide your phone number and a verification code, scammers can hijack your WhatsApp account. This allows them to send fraudulent messages to your contacts, potentially leading to financial losses.
Bitdefender has identified this scam, which has been active for the past two months, targeting users with 177 fake domains and 554 unique URLs. The fraudulent campaign exploits WhatsApp users by deceiving them into sharing verification codes, enabling scammers to take over accounts and commit fraud.
Although most attacks have occurred in countries like Poland, Romania, and Germany, the threat may spread to the UK. To stay safe, Bitdefender advises users not to share verification codes, verify requests for money or favors through direct calls, and report suspicious messages within WhatsApp. If hacked, users should request a new verification code, contact WhatsApp support, notify their bank of any transfers, and inform their contacts of the compromise.
WhatsApp emphasizes the importance of not sharing verification codes with anyone to protect accounts from unauthorized access. By promptly responding to push notifications about registration attempts, users can prevent scammers from taking over their accounts.