Bengaluru: When someone tries to register a WhatsApp account with your phone number, you'll receive a verification code. To keep your account safe, don't share your code with others. Any slip-up on this front could prove costly.
This is precisely what happened with a 62-year-old social worker, whose phone got hacked when he gave the verification code to a stranger in the midst of a phone call. Within minutes, he lost control of his account and fraudsters started demanding money for not sending obscene messages to all his contacts.
C James White, a resident of Kalkere near Horamavu, has lodged a complaint with East CEN Crime police. On Oct 28 between 8.30pm and 9.30pm, James was on a work-related call when he received a message that read: "Sorry, I accidentally sent you a 6-digit code via SMS, can you forward it to me? It's urgent." An unsuspecting James replied by texting the code (740256) he had received. Subsequently, he could no longer use his WhatsApp account.
The fraudsters accessed his phone book and started sending messages to his contacts, seeking money citing an emergency. The took over his Facebook and Messenger on Oct 31 and started sending similar messages to the Messenger contacts as well. A few who were unaware of James' accounts being hacked assumed it was a legitimate plea and sent money to the mobile number (9027384948) provided in the message.
"I was helpless as they had complete control over my accounts," James told TOI. Whenever he tried to alert his friends about the scam, the fraudsters threatened him and started sending obscene photos to the women in his contact book.
A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act, and a probe is on.