Users of WhatsApp are being advised to adhere to three new guidelines to safeguard their accounts against a recent increase in fraudulent activities. Reports from Action Fraud have highlighted a rise in incidents where cybercriminals gain unauthorized access to accounts to deceive the user’s contacts.

In some cases, these cybercriminals go as far as locking out the legitimate user, preventing them from alerting others about the security breach.

The typical modus operandi involves soliciting the account’s activation code from the user, which is then exploited to gain unauthorized access.

Action Fraud is issuing crucial advice along with three essential rules to prevent falling victim to such scams.

“To secure your WhatsApp account from hackers,” urged Action Fraud in a tweet on X (previously known as Twitter).

“The number of reports concerning WhatsApp account takeovers is on the rise,” they added.

The cybersecurity team emphasizes the importance of verifying WhatsApp accounts and enabling two-step verification. This feature ensures that no one can log in without confirmation on a secondary device, allowing users to promptly identify and thwart unauthorized access attempts.

To activate this security measure, users can simply access Settings > Account > Two-step verification > Enable within the WhatsApp application.

Furthermore, it is crucial to remember a fundamental rule: never share any code received on your phone.

“Avoid sharing the activation code for your account (the 6-digit code received via SMS),” advised Action Fraud.

Once hackers possess this code, they can easily attempt unauthorized access to the app and initiate deceptive activities.

The last piece of guidance is to STOP. THINK. CALL. Action recommends that if a family member or friend makes an unusual request via WhatsApp, it is advisable to verify their identity by calling them.

This caution is due to the ongoing threat posed by the “Hi mum” scam, which targets unsuspecting relatives to extract money under false pretenses.

It is estimated that significant sums of money have already been swindled by online fraudsters using this deceptive tactic.

WhatsApp users are advised to exercise vigilance and ensure their app is up to date and secure.

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