Alert over a new WhatsApp scam affecting users in Spain
Spanish authorities have issued an urgent warning to citizens regarding the rise of a dangerous scam circulating through the WhatsApp messaging application. This fraud, which seeks to steal users' personal accounts, is affecting thousands of people across the country and has raised concerns among cybersecurity experts.
The method used by the criminals is simple but very effective. The user receives a message from a known contact, whose account has already been hacked, requesting a six-digit code that arrives via SMS. This code is, in reality, the verification key needed to activate WhatsApp on another device, which allows the scammers to take full control of the victim's account.
Once the attackers access the account, they pose as the owner to ask family and friends for money under false pretenses, such as a supposed medical emergency or an urgent financial problem. Because the message comes from a trusted contact, many people fall into the trap and make bank transfers without suspecting that they are being deceived.
To protect themselves, experts recommend activating two-step verification in the application's security settings. This additional layer requires a secret PIN code that only the user knows, which prevents scammers from accessing the account even if they obtain the code sent via SMS.
In the event of having been a victim of this fraud, it is essential to immediately notify contacts to prevent them from continuing to send money and to report the incident to the National Police or the Civil Guard. Prevention and caution regarding unexpected messages are the best tools to avoid becoming the next target of this cybercrime network.