Avoiding WhatsApp Scam

By Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.

Scammers in Nigeria are very smart , you have to be steps ahead of them else you will be smashed .It is imperative for to be very circumspective and intuitive while dealing with strange persons on WhatsApp.To start never you believe some one that tells you , you are having a WhatsApp Meeting .Most Meetings are on Zoom ,Microsoft Team ,Twitter Space ,etc.This should be your first red flag.

When you are in a WhatsApp Group and you see some one’s security code change,it most likely means that his or her WhatsApp Number has just been hacked .You should reach out to the person privately (by a phone call ) to ascertain whether or not he or she actually changed his WhatsApp Number’s Security Code.
If the answer is in the negative, remove him or her immediately from the WhatsApp until he or she secures his or her Platform. This is for the Safety of all other Members in the Group.

If you do not do so , you will suddenly see that the number has been changed to the hacker’s WhatsApp number.

That means the hacker has substituted the person’s WhatsApp Number with his or her
Number .Then the person will begin to send scam messages to the Group and he can even access other Members’ WhatsApp Numbers , with out security features and also for the purpose of sending scam messages and fake news .

The Hacker or Scammer can also send private chats to your loved one asking for help or requesting for money , as if you were the one requesting for same. The victim in this scenario , may have compromised his or her WhatsApp Account, by inputting the code the hacker gave to his or her security feature , which the person if not smart will now use in helping the hacker hack his or her WhatsApp Account .Then , he or she will no longer have control over the referenced WhatsApp Account.

The Hacker or Scammer can also use your Account to spread fake news that may have national security implications and put you in jeopardy or in legal harms way .Admins of WhatsApp Groups should always check their Groups intermittently to ascertain the security and sanctity of same or they can be vicariously liable for any criminality perpetuated by hackers on their group according to the Cyber Crime Act, 2015, the applicable law in modulation of cyber activities in Nigeria .

In this light , do not respond to messages for you to put a code in your whatssap account security feature or reveal your security code to any one .

When You start seeing bogus investments plans with credit alert extracts in your group the hacker or Scammer has hacked a Member’s WhatsApp Account and the WhatsApp Account should be removed immediately, as a safety measure.
If your Account has been hacked , google the Contact details of WhatsApp Inc. in American and report same and they will help you retrieve your Account.

In view of this development,I strongly admonish you follow the following procedure to secure your WhatsApp Account:

Go to the icons on the right hand side of your WhatsApp Home page ;

Then select settings on your WhatsApp Icons and Click on Account.

Click on the Two step verification prompt and enter your pin 6 digit pin,a pin you can remember and
Confirm your pin.For Certainty of purpose,use a Pin you are used to.Better to use a syncronised but secure pin for all your online transactions.

Input your email address that is a Valid Email address and then
Confirm your email.

Then save, that is all.It is so simple ,
but if you do not do it ,the consequences are dire!

If someone wanted to change your WhatsApp number, WhatsApp will ask for the Two-step verification process and without it , the account security feature will not be activated and so the Account Will not open.

Since the hunters have learnt to shoot with out missing ,you should learn to fly with out perching .Take this precaution today.
Goodluck.

About the Author:

Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.

douglasogbankwa@gmail.com

is a Lawyer ,Writer and Policy Analyst.