Kolkata cops warn netizens of WhatsApp fraud

KOLKATA: The Kolkata Police have warned users against possible attempts at WhatsApp cloning which can even lead to SIM swapping. Kolkata police took to Twitter on Wednesday to caution netizens to be careful while clicking any suspicious link received via WhatsApp. Police said one should follow the WhatsApp security features which is effective in battling this fraud.
“You may receive a message on WhatsApp, asking you to click on a link and share the WhatsApp Verification code. These forwards might come from people who are extremely close to you. Sharing this code will give fraudsters access to your WhatsApp. If you receive such a message from your friend or relative, verify whether it is really them,” the cops wrote on Twitter.
The development comes after some ethical hackers received such fake WhatsApp and KYC updates and immediately reported the matter to Lalbazar.
Sources said some of these scams can also begin with a message that they send to their target. It is a simple message like “hello mum” or “hello dad”. The scammers send the message followed by an SOS to immediately transfer money to an account because their son or daughter is in need.
Earlier, Kolkata Police had taken to its Facebook page to warn netizens about the new dangers. “WhatsApp Getting Hacked! If you receive this kind of message and if any person on your contacts list (even if known) asks you to forward the same, please don’t do so. Fraudsters are using this to take control of your WhatsApp account. We have received a few such complaints and seek your cooperation,” the message stated.
Cops have also warned citizens that there can also be a direct request to transfer money posing as a person in distress instead of asking for verification code. “You must treat your WhatsApp messages with as much caution as you treat random FB messages,” said a cyber cell officer.
Police commissioner Vineet Goyal has asked his officers to concentrate on smashing cyber crime. Barely a couple of months ago, the arrest of a 27-year-old man from Indore had blown the lid of scamsters who are hacking WhatsApp profiles and duping them of their money. The Kolkata Police cyber cell arrested the accused — Jayesh Patidar — who allegedly hacked identity of Kolkata man, used a temporary IP address of Pakistan and duped a businessman of Rs 6 lakhs. Cops also shared example of a woman from Alipore who was charged a fortune as ransom to get back her profile.