![](https://i.imgur.com/CLvY2jA.png")
03-12-2021, 03:53 PM
Tay Hong Yi
PUBLISHED 57 MIN AGO
SINGAPORE - Five people were arrested for their suspected involvement in a scam involving the takeover of WhatsApp accounts.
Criminal Investigation Department officers arrested four men - aged between 27 and 37 - and a 34-year-old woman during an operation conducted on Nov 29 and 30, said police on Friday (Dec 3).
Three of the men are also being investigated over drug-related offences.
......
Syndicates operating such scams work to steal the six-digit verification code. They then use it to lock out the genuine user of the WhatsApp account.
In one variant of the scam, syndicate members will pretend to be friends and relatives of the genuine user of the WhatsApp account and request for online gift cards.
......
Police on Friday also gave some tips so users can protect their WhatsApp accounts:
• Do not share the WhatsApp account verification codes with anyone
• Be wary of unusual requests received over WhatsApp, even if sent by WhatsApp contacts
• Protect the WhatsApp account by enabling the "Two-Step Verification" feature, which is accessed via the settings function
• Change the voicemail account's default personal identification number to avoid easy access by scammers, or deactivating the feature if you have no use for it
The public can call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000, or submit the information online if they have information related to such crimes, or are in doubt.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/c...tsapp-scam
PUBLISHED 57 MIN AGO
SINGAPORE - Five people were arrested for their suspected involvement in a scam involving the takeover of WhatsApp accounts.
Criminal Investigation Department officers arrested four men - aged between 27 and 37 - and a 34-year-old woman during an operation conducted on Nov 29 and 30, said police on Friday (Dec 3).
Three of the men are also being investigated over drug-related offences.
......
Syndicates operating such scams work to steal the six-digit verification code. They then use it to lock out the genuine user of the WhatsApp account.
In one variant of the scam, syndicate members will pretend to be friends and relatives of the genuine user of the WhatsApp account and request for online gift cards.
......
Police on Friday also gave some tips so users can protect their WhatsApp accounts:
• Do not share the WhatsApp account verification codes with anyone
• Be wary of unusual requests received over WhatsApp, even if sent by WhatsApp contacts
• Protect the WhatsApp account by enabling the "Two-Step Verification" feature, which is accessed via the settings function
• Change the voicemail account's default personal identification number to avoid easy access by scammers, or deactivating the feature if you have no use for it
The public can call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000, or submit the information online if they have information related to such crimes, or are in doubt.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/c...tsapp-scam
