WhatsApp users beware: Scammers now using this new video call feature to steal money, here is how to stay safe

New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 25, 2023 15:26 IST

Cyber scams have become a growing concern in India over the last few months. Thousands of people have reportedly lost lakhs and crores of their hard-earned money after falling into the tricks of unknown individuals operating through the online space. There have been work-from-home scams, YouTube video scams, hotel rating scams, "hi mom" scams (scammers posing as relatives and asking for money), and so on. However, the concern is that whenever one thinks that they have caught enough of the phishing tricks of these scammers, these cyber hawks come up with something new.

Cybercriminals are relentlessly updating their methods to deceive users, as evidenced by a new scam targeting WhatsApp's recently launched screen share feature. Leveraging the platform's vast user base, this deceptive tactic, known as the "WhatsApp screen share scam," is now posing a significant risk of financial loss and other cyber abuse to unsuspecting users.

What is the WhatsApp screen share scam

The WhatsApp screen share scam is a deceptive scheme in which scammers trick users into starting screen sharing on their phone through the WhatsApp app. Unlike traditional scams that rely on direct requests for sensitive information, this scam manipulates users into granting the scammer access to their phone's screen in real-time. Scammers achieve this by faking their identity, creating a sense of urgency, or promising assistance with phone-related issues.

However, as soon as users start the screen share, they unknowingly grant the scammer the ability to see everything happening on their screen in real-time. This access goes beyond WhatsApp messages, extending to sensitive information such as one-time passwords (OTPs) for bank accounts, social media, or other important services—anything that users scroll through during the screen share period. Using this information, scammers can steal OTPs to drain bank accounts, change passwords to lock the user out of social media, or even install malware for future tracking.

What makes this scam particularly dangerous is that scammers don't require users to actively provide information. They merely need users to click a button to enable screen sharing. This seemingly innocuous action, often used for legitimate purposes like assistance or demonstration, allows scammers to access sensitive data without any active input from the user. Once obtained, this data can be used to drain bank accounts, hijack social media accounts, and facilitate further criminal activities.

How to stay safe

Here are some important tips to stay safe from WhatsApp screen sharing scams:

• Be cautious when receiving voice/video calls from unknown numbers on WhatsApp. Avoid answering calls from unfamiliar contacts, and if in doubt, verify the caller's identity before proceeding.
• Never share OTPs, credit/debit card numbers, or CVVs with anyone, even if seemingly legitimate requests are made.
• Maintain the confidentiality of your passwords. Do not disclose them to anyone, even individuals claiming to represent official organisations.
• While sharing a screen on video call, make sure you have already opened the file which you want to show. Do not open apps like messages or notepads where you have written sensitive information like passwords.