Jaipur, February 7. In the digital age, where technology has made life easier, cyber fraudsters have now made your most trusted app, WhatsApp, their weapon. Following instructions from the Director General of Police, Cyber Crime, a special advisory has been issued explaining how criminals are gaining access to your account and committing banking fraud.
How cyber fraudsters lay their trap:
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Cyber Crime, Vikas Sharma, explained that cyber criminals often infiltrate people’s smartphones through unknown links, fake calls, or screen-sharing apps. Once they gain control of WhatsApp, they demand money from your contacts or misuse the banking apps on your mobile phone, emptying your account in minutes.
How to recover a hacked account (step-by-step process):
The police have shared a secure method to recover a hacked account:
★ First, uninstall WhatsApp from your phone and remove the SIM card.
★ Connect your mobile to Wi-Fi and download a reliable antivirus from an authorized app store and perform a full scan. Immediately delete any suspicious files and bots.
★ For mobile security, disable “Install from unknown sources” and check and disable call/SMS forwarding.
★ Now insert the SIM card into a basic phone and reinstall WhatsApp on your smartphone.
★ During verification, choose the “Call me” option instead of SMS. Enter the code received via call on the basic phone, and your account will be back under your control.
Report immediately to these numbers:
If you have been a victim of this incident, do not panic. Immediately call the cyber helpline number 1930 or contact 9256001930 / 9257510100. You can also register your complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
Police message: Awareness is the best defense. Keep your security settings strong and do not share your OTP or screen with any unknown person.