Do you also download random files on WhatsApp from unknown numbers? Stop it now! You could be a victim of a WhatsApp new image scam. Tap to know more about it.
Scammers heavily use WhatsApp to scam people in various ways. From OTP scams to digital arrests, WhatsApp is constantly being used for scams.
A new scam has emerged through WhatsApp known as the ‘WhatsApp Image Scam’. In this scam, fraudsters send you images with malicious code to access your device.
This image scam runs through a technique known as ‘Stengangography’. Using this technique, scammers embed malicious code into images to access the victim’s information.
Scammers send seemingly harmless images on WhatsApp with an embedded malicious code. If the person downloads the image, a malware is downloaded in the device.
If you ignore the image once, the scammers call you and pressurise you to download the file. Once, you download the image, your device gets hacked.
As per the Hindustan Times report, a resident of Jabalpur became a victim of this scam. He downloaded the image and eventually the scammers withdrew Rs 2 lakh from his account.
To protect yourself from the WhatsApp Image scam, you need to disable the auto-download feature on WhatsApp. Do not download files from unknown sources.
If you are a victim of this image scam or know someone who has been scammed, report the incident to the official cybercrime portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in).
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