The WhatsApp OTP scam is a rather dangerous one as people may not be able to spot malicious links and end up losing their accounts to hackers.
How Is The WhatsApp OTP Scam Carried Out?
In this operation, scammers get into your WhatsApp account using an OTP sent through a message. The WhatsApp message may come to a user from an unknown number or from a friend. Hackers claim to be in an emergency situation, asking you for an OTP which was sent to your number by mistake.
The access can be misused in any way: Hackers may send such malicious messages to others using your WA number thereby putting you in trouble or make seek bribery to release control over your account.
How To Protect Yourself From Hackers?
If you receive such a message, do not engage with the sender. Do not share the OTP with anyone, in any case, OTP is something private and should not be shared with another individual. It is a number to be filled in one of the services you have subscribed to so a third person should never enter the space.
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Two-Step Verification
As you may already know for additional security, WhatsApp gives you the option of locking your account by setting a PIN code. Only those with that passcode will be able to open the account.
However, many people do not set the additional step of filling an email address that can be used to retrieve access, in case, for some reason a user forgets the pin code. So do register your email address wherein you will be able to get your account access through a link just like other social media accounts.
Fingerprint unlock is also a popular option.
However, if you come across such hackers, you need to also register a complaint with the nodal cyber cell so that these indiviuals can be caught before they are able to trick any more users.
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