Warning: New WhatsApp Scam Poses Risk of Draining Bank Accounts and Locking Users Out of Social Media

Rising Threat: protect yourself from WhatsApp screen share scams – a guide to new-age cybercrime prevention.

WhatsApp has become the centrepiece of our digital life. From staying connected with friends and family to making payments, it is undoubtedly a useful app to have. However, miscreants are now taking advantage of the wider WhatsApp audience to embark on financial fraud activities, and one such recent development is the WhatsApp screen share scam.

Digital scams usually involve victims sharing the OTP, also known as a one-time password, with scammers, which will then be used to take control of various online services for money transfers. With WhatsApp screen share scams, the victim does not have to do anything other than enable the screen share option, as requested by cybercriminals.

Once enabled, the miscreant will get access to your smartphone, which can then be used to access messages, which will also include OTPs.

There are several reports of people losing their hard-earned money due to WhatsApp screen share scams. Not only that, people are also getting locked out of their own social media accounts, as someone could easily change or tweak the password remotely using this feature.

When screen sharing is enabled, scammers will have real-time access to your smartphone screen and they can read messages and OTPs that you might receive, which will be initiated by the cybercriminals.

How to stay safe from WhatsApp scams?

Never accept a voice/video call from an unknown number on WhatsApp
Never share OTP, credit/debit card number, or CVV
Never disclose your password to anyone
Never accept screen share requests, unless you are sure

Security Tip: When receiving calls, even from known numbers, initiate with a voice call to confirm identity before transitioning to video. Ensure screen-sharing is disabled, as unauthorized access poses risks beyond financial loss.