As per the news, it claims that hackers can take over your WhatsApp account and gain access to your private chats as well as your contact list. Hackers are using mobile phone providers’ automated call forwarding services and WhatsApp’s option to deliver an OTP verification code via voice call to gain access to your personal information. CloudSEk security researchers have discovered a new fraud that allows hackers to take control of a user’s account by making a simple phone call. Hackers phone targets and instruct them to dial numbers beginning with the letters ’67’ or ‘405’. Users are kicked out of their WhatsApp accounts after the call is made, and hackers obtain complete access to their accounts in seconds.

About the Hacking Process

According to CloudSEk, the hackers send a number that looks like service requests for multiple telecom operators for ‘call forwarding’ while their phone numbers are occupied or engaged. Once the call is made, the hacker redirects the victim’s calls to their phone number. While the victim is occupied, the hackers begin the WhatsApp signup procedure and select “the option to provide OTP via a phone call.” The attacker’s phone receives the OTP. Users are encouraged to call **67*10 digit number> or *405*10 digit number> by hackers. This method can also be used to steal anyone’s WhatsApp account provided a hacker has physical access to their phone and permission to make calls, according to the security researcher. He claims that every country and service provider uses the same service request number, so the method works worldwide.

So how can you protect yourself from this?

The safest and simplest strategy to safeguard yourself from a WhatsApp hacker is to ignore calls from unknown numbers and not make calls to unknown numbers. Also, make sure the numbers aren’t being spammed. Above all, don’t leave your phone lying around where it can be picked up by others.

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