Nowadays WhatsApp has become a free messaging app. It has become a part of everyone's life. The number of WhatsApp users in India is the highest in the world. By May 2024, India had 53.58 crore active WhatsApp users. In such a situation, if someone's WhatsApp gets hacked, it can become a big threat to his life. But nowadays scammers have found new ways to hack WhatsApp. In this, the highest number of cases have come from those who share OTP. People have suffered a big blow by sharing OTP with anyone without any verification.

One thing you should pay attention to is that whether it is mom or dad, brother or sister if anyone asks for OTP on the phone, then you should be careful. This can be a cyber fraud. This whole game is played using the identity and voice of your relatives.

A new way to hack WhatsApp

Scammers are now using social engineering to hack WhatsApp. In this, first, they send you a message from a close friend's number. It is told that an OTP has been sent by mistake and you have to forward it. If you forward that message without thinking, then your WhatsApp can be hacked.

This is a new case

A similar incident happened with Priyanka Singh of Noida. Priyanka received a WhatsApp message from one of her friends in which it was written, Priyanka, I have sent you a message by mistake. Forward it to me quickly. Priyanka forwarded the message without thinking anything. There was a 6-digit OTP in that message. Which was for installing WhatsApp. Priyanka forwarded this OTP and her WhatsApp got hacked.

This incident happened with Priyanka Singh on March 9. Messages demanding money were sent from Priyanka's phone to her acquaintances. Priyanka received a WhatsApp message from her friend demanding Rs 30,000. Priyanka transferred the money believing the message to be true. When Priyanka realized that she had been duped, she immediately sought help from the cyber police and her WhatsApp was activated again after about 16 hours.

Tips to avoid cybercrime

If you receive a message from someone you know asking for an OTP, never forward it. First of all, call that person and confirm.

If someone's message says that you have to do something quickly, be cautious. Such messages may be part of a fraud.

Activate two-factor authentication on WhatsApp, which will strengthen your safety. This will make it difficult for hackers to access WhatsApp.

If your WhatsApp has been hacked, check it thoroughly before linking it to Gmail or any other email account.

If your WhatsApp gets hacked, contact the cyber police immediately. They helped Priyanka and recovered her WhatsApp account in about 16 hours.

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