Digital Rights Foundation Issues Alert on Rising Scam Targeting WhatsApp Accounts
The Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) has recently issued an alert concerning an active scam aimed at hacking WhatsApp accounts through fake calls asking for a verification code.
WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging applications in Pakistan. The World Population Review estimates around 52 million users in Pakistan by 2024, making Pakistan the seventh largest in the world by user population. Its use is even encouraged among lawyers for operational efficiency. However, emerging digital scams threaten users’ data privacy.
As detailed in the alert, the DRF sent out an alert concerning the WhatsApp hacking scam after receiving multiple reports. The DRF has been active in the field of digital rights in Pakistan since 2013 as a not-for-profit organization.
The alert specified how the scam works. “Victims receive calls from delivery riders, or from individuals pretending to be from the HEC (Higher Education Commission), and are asked to provide a code which allows them to hack their WhatsApp,” the alert said.
The alert specified how the scam works. “Victims receive calls from delivery riders, or from individuals pretending to be from the HEC (Higher Education Commission), and are asked to provide a code which allows them to hack their WhatsApp,” the alert said.
The foundation attended to assist citizens in reporting scam calls to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s official complaint cell at 0800-55055.
In addition to infographics, the foundation also recommended enabling two-factor authentication on all social media platforms, and checking the ‘linked devices’ function on WhatsApp to monitor account access and remove unfamiliar devices.
It is advised that the affected parties reach out to the Digital Security Helpline at 0800-39393, which operates daily from 9 am to 5 pm, or contact through social media platforms.
Based on the data shared with Dawn.com, the helpline team reported 233 cases of scam calls to the DRF from January 2025.
Other reported scammers include impersonation who, pretending to be from the JazzCash helpline, claim to be able to access an account, and kidnapping scam calls which threaten to demand exorbitant amounts for the “release” of a purported family member, as well as phishing links where the scammer hacks the victim’s social media account and impersonates them to solicit “urgent” financial assistance.
The DRF Digital Security Helpline assists hacking victims in a progressive manner helping them to disseminate an awareness message on social media, reclaim their hacked accounts, and report them for legal action. Additional to these services, the Helpline provides tips on digital security and escalation of cases to appropriate channels for coordinated action for high-risk individuals.
Also in May, the national Cyber Emergency Response Team released a notice alerting that the login IDs and passwords of over 180 million internet users from Pakistan had been compromised in a global data breach, advising users to take protective safeguards.
