ABBOTTABAD: Cybercrime officials have warned residents of Abbottabad to remain alert after an organised group allegedly hacked the WhatsApp accounts of businessmen, social figures and other prominent citizens to solicit fraudulent money transfers from their contacts.
An official associated with the Cyber Crime Wing Hazara said an average of five WhatsApp account-hacking complaints were being reported in Abbottabad each day, with victims and their contacts allegedly losing millions of rupees through the fraud.
The official said investigators had identified transactions made through different bank accounts and mobile numbers, but the group suspected of conducting the coordinated campaign had not yet been fully traced or dismantled.
The claims regarding the number of daily cases and financial losses were provided by the local cybercrime official and could not be independently verified.
Hackers Obtain WhatsApp Verification Codes
According to affected citizens, scammers contact their targets using parcel deliveries, verification requests or other misleading pretexts and persuade them to disclose the one-time password sent to their mobile phone.
Once the verification code is shared, the scammers can register the victim’s WhatsApp number on another device and gain control of the account.
They then contact people saved in the victim’s address book, posing as the account owner and requesting urgent financial assistance.
The fraudulent messages commonly claim that the victim’s bank account or mobile banking service is temporarily unavailable and ask the recipient to transfer money to another account immediately.
Cybercrime officials warned that WhatsApp verification codes, banking OTPs, passwords and personal identification details should never be disclosed during an unsolicited phone call or message.
WhatsApp also advises users never to share registration codes or two-step verification PINs with anyone.
Verify Every Urgent Money Request
The Cyber Crime Wing urged citizens to independently confirm any unexpected request for money, even when it appears to have come from a close friend, relative or business associate.
Recipients should call the person through their regular mobile number or contact them through another trusted channel before transferring funds.
Messages that create urgency, claim a banking problem or ask for payment to an unfamiliar account should be treated as potential fraud.
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency is Pakistan’s federal body responsible for investigating offences including online fraud and account hacking.
What to Do if a WhatsApp Account Is Compromised
The Hazara official advised victims to contact cybercrime specialists immediately instead of repeatedly attempting to log in from different devices, as timely technical guidance could help preserve evidence and support the investigation.
WhatsApp’s official recovery guidance says a user who has lost access should re-register the phone number using the six-digit code received by SMS or phone call. Entering that code automatically logs the unauthorised user out of the account. Victims should also inform family members and contacts because scammers may impersonate them and request money.
Any related bank or mobile-wallet account should also be secured immediately, while suspicious transfers should be reported to the relevant financial institution and cybercrime authorities.
Enable Two-Step Verification
Citizens were advised to activate two-step verification on WhatsApp by creating a private six-digit PIN and adding a secure recovery email address.
WhatsApp recommends enabling two-step verification, adding an email address for account recovery and using device-level protections such as app or chat locks.
Users should also review linked devices regularly and remove any computer, browser or mobile device they do not recognise.
Officials appealed to the public to report suspicious calls, OTP requests and fraudulent money-transfer messages promptly so investigators could trace the numbers, accounts and individuals involved.
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