• Source:JND
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WHATSAPP, a widely used instant messaging app, is in the news for a popular scam taking shape in India wherein video and audio calls pop up out of nowhere to WhatsApp users from unknown and strange-looking international phone numbers.

Such video calls seemingly originate from phone numbers with country codes across Ethiopia, Morocco, Swaziland and more, in our case. But this necessary does not mean the call was dialled from an international location. According to media reports, agencies sell international numbers that can be used to make WhatsApp calls while sitting in the same place as the recipient.

Also Read: WhatsApp To Soon Let Users Transfer Chats To New iPhones Without iCloud; How To Do It

At Jagran English, a brief round-up gave us multiple instances of these spammy call requests. I and other members at the Jagran office received calls from WhatsApp numbers that start with the country codes +251 (Ethiopia), +268 (Swaziland), +212 (Morocco) and +84 (Vietnam). People at the office received calls from the numbers stated below -

1) +251 91 236 7450

2) +268 7966 1203

3) +212 645 523363

4) + 84 78 272 0763

While no one at the office picked up the call to explore the motive of these calls, media reports have speculated it was mainly a scam. These cyber frauds can range from robbing money to leaking personal details. One such case of a part-time job scam to like YouTube videos taking place on WhatsApp was noted in an Entrackr report.

The WhatsApp user (+84 92 233 17 99) introduced the account belonged to HR Priscilla Barret, who gave a lucrative offer to the recipient to earn up to Rs 10,000 in a day was given to a user. Moving to social media, users on Twitter complain about such instances with audio calls too.

At the moment, your best bet would be to ignore the request and block the phone number.

As we know, WhatsApp works via the Internet, which allows the user to skip extra charges during calls compared to calls on a cellular network. The advantage makes the platform a cost-effective option for scammers and cyber fraudsters to commit crimes. Plus, the platform offers end-to-end encryption for calls, messages, and other forms of media on the platform for added security. The safeguard is being misused by these call makers to conceal identity.