WhatsApp Image Scam: Cyber ​​fraudsters are robbing people of their hard-earned money through new methods of fraud. After OTP, fake links, now a new scam has come on WhatsApp. Recently, a person from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh lost about Rs 2 lakh after downloading a picture sent on WhatsApp from an unknown number. After this, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued a warning about this new cybercrime. According to the Department of Telecommunications, this new scam, which relies on downloading files, is particularly worrying.

WhatsApp Image Scam: Fraud begins by sending pictures.

Scammers start this fraud by sending pictures on WhatsApp or other messaging platforms. In some cases, they also make phone calls and ask the victim to identify the person seen in the picture sent on WhatsApp. After the victim downloads the picture, their phone crashes, giving the scammers access to the victim's smartphone. There is a malware link inside the photo. This technique is called steganography.

WhatsApp Image Scam: What is steganography

According to the anti-virus website Kaspersky, steganography is a method of hiding information within another message or physical object so that it cannot be detected. It can be used to hide many types of digital content including text, images, videos, or audio. The hidden data can later be extracted at its destination. Scammers link the victim to download a harmful application on their smartphone, which gives access to the OTP and hacks the account.

WhatsApp Image Scam: Do not make these mistakes to avoid scam

To avoid this new scam of WhatsApp, do not download unknown photos, videos or voice notes from unknown numbers. If the size of any image or video seems unusually large, avoid downloading it, as it may contain links to harmful applications. Do not link your WhatsApp number to your bank account. Report any such incident on the Cyber ​​Crime Portal or call the Cyber ​​Crime Helpline 1930.

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