UAE Residents Are Being Warned Of A Messaging Scam | ExpatWoman.com
 

UAE Residents Are Being Warned Of A Messaging Scam

Be careful of the following…

Posted on

25 November 2018

Last updated on 14 January 2020
WhatsApp

Residents in the United Arab Emirates are being warned of a scam

This scam targets the communication application, Whatsapp, specifically and can result in the hack of the Whatsapp account.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the UAE posted a warning video on Twitter on Saturday, advising users of the popular communication application to take caution of a new scam.

Residents who fall trap to this new scam can get their accounts and applications hacked via a code verification message scam.

The TRA reported of the closeness of the fake message to that of the real Whatsapp verification message – this message is being sent to new users who are registering on the application.

Once the user clicks on this message, it will enable a malicious link to validate the device and hack the account.

Here’s how the scam works

The message sent to the Whatsapp account, pretending to be an automated message from Whatsapp says:

“Hello, this is a message from the Whatsapp team. We got a notice that this account might be fake. To verify this account please enter the 6 digit code that will be sent to your mobile number. If you fail to do so, your account will be disabled and deleted.”

RTA advised against clicking unknown links as they might be maliciously sent by hackers which can enable them to access your account, read your message history and even see your photos.

SEE ALSO: A New App Will Let You Report Fraud And Scams In Dubai

What to do if you received this message

If you received this message and have been hacked, the TRA advises on the following:

  • Uninstall and reinstall Whatsapp
  • Keep doing so at different times of the day
  • Alert your contact that you’ve been hacked and advise them against clicking the link
 
 

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