The Anatomy of an Online Scam

WhatsApp’s Wily Operators

Cybercrime isn’t just about hackers breaking into banks or stealing from corporations. It’s personal. It’s in your pocket.

Imagine this: you’re scrolling on WhatsApp, and a message pops up from your best friend. They’re panicking—they need money fast. Or maybe they’ve found an amazing “investment opportunity” you just can’t miss.

But wait. Is this really your friend talking?

The ugly truth: it might not be. Their account could already be in the hands of a scammer. And you might be next.

How They Got In

WhatsApp has over 2 billion users—and scammers love it.
They use tricks like:

• Hijacking WhatsApp Web sessions
• Call forwarding fraud
• Social engineering (their favorite weapon)

Here’s the playbook:

1. They pretend to be friendly—on social media, dating sites, even job platforms.
2. They get you to share your WhatsApp number.
3. They attempt to log in as you.
4. WhatsApp sends you the verification code.
5. The scammer begs or pressures you into “just sending it over.”

Game over. Your account is theirs. Your contacts are next.

How to Outsmart Them

• Lock It Down: Turn on two-step verification (Settings → Account → Two-step verification).
• Think Twice: If a message seems weird or urgent, double-check by calling your friend.
• Guard Your Codes: Never share your WhatsApp verification code. Ever.
• Don’t Take the Bait: Suspicious links and attachments? Ignore them.

 Remember: Scammers don’t break in—they trick their way in. Don’t let your trust be the open door.