Jules Vasquez, Director of 7 News, is one of many unfortunate persons who have lost access to his WhatsApp account as a result of a scam by persons who are involved in phishing. Data security company Imperva describes Phishing as, “a type of social engineering attack often used to steal user data, including login credentials and credit card numbers.” It occurs when an attacker, masquerading as a trusted entity, dupes a victim into opening an email, instant message or text message. The recipient is then tricked into clicking a malicious link, which can lead to the installation of malware, the freezing of the system as part of a ransomware attack or the revealing of sensitive information.
An attack can have devastating results. For individuals, this includes unauthorized purchases, the stealing of funds, or identity theft.”
Vasquez told The Guardian that he received a message via text on his phone number on Monday, December 7 sometime around 10 a.m. The message was a code. Shortly after receiving that message he received another on his WhatsApp number. It read simply: “Hello, I’m sorry, I accidentally sent you a six-digit code by text message, can you give it to me? It’s urgent.” Vasquez replied to the request and to his chagrin he was locked out of his own account. Someone else had taken possession of his account and is now masquerading as Vasquez. He told The Guardian that he was duped because he simply answers messages as a matter of routine and did not stop to consider that the matter was actually a phishing attack.
While Vasquez was one that was duped, there have been a number of other persons who have complained to this media house that they have received similar messages and their WhatsApp accounts have been hijacked.
The way the scam works is that a code is sent via text message to the person’s phone. Thereafter, an unknown number sends a WhatsApp message asking that the recipient of the message send them the code via WhatsApp. At that point, if there is a response, the person on the other end takes complete control of the WhatsApp number and uses it for themselves and the original owner of the WhatsApp number will then no longer have access to their accounts.
Vasquez says he is taking measures to recover his WhatsApp number but warns persons to simply do not respond to unknown texts.
