More and more often, fraudsters are also using digital channels for their machinations. Now a completely new scam has appeared. The police warn ALL users.

Police are warning of a new WhatsApp scam. As “20 Minutes” reports, such cases have now occurred for the first time. Police warn against WhatsApp hacking: Several cases of hacked accounts have been reported to them, they said on Wednesday morning.

The fraudster sets up a WhatsApp account by using the victim’s phone number. The app then automatically transmits a one-time code via SMS to the phone number associated with the account. “The scammer uses a loophole in the verification process to obtain the code and gain control of your WhatsApp account,” the police warn citizens. “Consequently, it will enable two-factor authentication to prevent you from recovering your account.”

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Widespread form of fraud

In the reported cases in Valais, the fraudster wrote to all saved contacts and demanded money from them. “In addition, he demanded a large sum of money from his victim in exchange for the restoration of his WhatsApp account,” the police said. In the past month, the National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC) has received a large number of reports of this type of fraud.

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The cantonal police advise WhatsApp users to activate two-step verification in the settings. Furthermore, one should not transfer money, even if the fraudsters insist on it. And: “If you have been a victim, secure all evidence and report the incident to the police.