Malaysian Man Foils WhatsApp Scam Attempt After Hacker Hijacks Business Partner's Number
They have lodged a police report.
By Sadho Ram — 15 Aug 2024, 05:58 PM
A Malaysian businessman narrowly avoided becoming a victim of a scam after a hacker compromised his business partner's WhatsApp account
The recent incident is an example of the sophisticated tactics used by scammers to exploit victims' trust.
The scam unfolded when the businessman received an urgent message on WhatsApp from someone claiming to be his business partner, according to conversation screenshots sighted by SAYS.
The hacker, who had taken control of the business partner's WhatsApp account, requested an immediate transfer of RM3,000, promising to return the money the next day.
Sensing something was amiss, the businessman decided to play for time and contact his business partner.
After calling his business partner directly, the businessman discovered that the latter's WhatsApp account had been hacked
The partner, who had been receiving similar calls from other associates that day, confirmed that he had not made any requests for money.
The partner has since lodged a police report, of which a copy was shared with SAYS.
WhatsApp scams have been on the rise in Malaysia
According to the Malaysian Computer Emergency Response Team (MyCERT), scammers have been exploiting WhatsApp, often posing as someone you know or a well-known person or entity.
"The scammers are usually pretty good at creating a sense of urgency, claiming that an immediate response is required to avoid an unpleasant outcome. Common scam techniques include texts saying a loved one is in imminent danger or needs cash urgently to help them out of a crisis," it said in a statement in December last year.
The scammers' modus operandi usually involves hijacking a WhatsApp account by sending a link and asking the victim to click on it
Clicking the link grants scammers control over your WhatsApp account, effectively locking you out. They then impersonate you, sending messages to your contacts requesting urgent financial assistance.
How you can protect yourself from WhatsApp scams
First, enable two-step verification to add more security to your WhatsApp account.
Double-check requests: If you receive a request for money or sensitive information, especially if it’s urgent, always verify it by calling the person directly or using an alternative communication method.
Meanwhile, entrepreneur Khairul Aming has alerted his fans to a troubling trend where scammers are using AI to create fake videos of him:
