A rising wave of cyber frauds involving hacked WhatsApp accounts has sparked concern among the public. Fraudsters are increasingly exploiting the popular messaging platform to steal personal information, impersonate users, and carry out financial scams, leaving victims with both monetary losses and reputational damage.

Scammers often contact unsuspecting individuals through phone calls, SMS messages, or by sending malicious APK files. By tricking victims into sharing sensitive details such as OTPs, they gain access to WhatsApp accounts and log in from their own devices. Once an account is compromised, the rightful owner is usually locked out for 12 to 24 hours, unable to regain control. During this period, hackers send fraudulent messages to the victim’s contacts, requesting money or spreading harmful links that can compromise additional accounts.

Cybersecurity experts warn that these scams are spreading rapidly and urge users to take preventive measures. Enabling WhatsApp’s Two-Step Verification, never sharing OTPs, avoiding suspicious links or APK files, and ignoring unusual messages are strongly recommended.

Authorities also remind the public to report any incidents of online financial fraud immediately by calling the toll-free helpline 1930 or registering complaints through the official portal [https://cybercrime.gov.in](https://cybercrime.gov.in)