Key Takeaways:

• Beware of scammers pretending to be in your WhatsApp group chats
• Never share one-time passcodes with anyone, even in group chats
• If your account is hijacked, report it immediately to prevent further fraud

WhatsApp: Urgent Warning! Scammers Target Friends And Family

Experts are warning people in group chats on WhatsApp about a call scam that could steal money from their friends and family.

In the UK, Action Fraud, the place where people report fraud crimes, has gotten hundreds of complaints from victims, according to Metro UK.

The scammer calls and pretends to be someone in the group chat. They often use a fake name and picture to trick the victim into trusting them.

During the call, the scammer asks the victim for a one-time passcode (OTP), saying it’s needed to “register” for the group call.

But really, this code lets the scammer set up the victim’s WhatsApp on a new phone and hijack their account.

Next, the scammer turns on two-step verification, locking the real victim out of their account.

Now the scammer can message people in the victim’s contacts, often asking for money by pretending to be someone in trouble who needs help.