Beware of This New WhatsApp Scam in UAE

Published December 27th, 2018 - 07:03 GMT
Don't ignore these messages and compromise your account. (Shutterstock)
Don't ignore these messages and compromise your account. (Shutterstock)

Don't fall prey to 'troubleshooting' messages from anonymous sources on WhatsApp.

According to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), UAE residents should be wary of responding to any messages claiming to deter hacking attempts.  

Interacting with such messages could result in your WhatsApp account being stolen, warned the TRA.

The latest scam message informs users "after a scanning (sic) to our servers, we found that your account is not confirmed and it will be deleted because someone is claiming to have that account."

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It claims it sent the user an authentication code to the registered phone number to confirm that account is truly theirs. The user is told to send the code back on the same chat to "verify" the account, else the WhatsApp account will be closed within 24 hours. 

The message is signed "WhatsApp Support Team". 

The TRA advised users to completely disregard such messages, either by responding to the text or by sending the so-called authentication text.

It added that the WhatsApp application does not correspond with users via text.  

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