Durban – Members of the public have been urged to remain on high alert following a surge in WhatsApp account takeover scams reported across South Africa.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) said it has received multiple complaints from victims who were targeted through a verification code scam that allows fraudsters to gain control of their accounts.
According to RUSA, victims are typically contacted by someone posing as a known or trusted contact, who invites them to join an online meeting and provides a link.
Once the link is accessed, a verification code is sent to the victim’s phone.
The suspect then requests the code, claiming it is needed to join the meeting. After the code is shared, the perpetrator takes control of the victim’s WhatsApp account.
The scam does not end there. Fraudsters then impersonate the victim and send messages to their contacts, often requesting urgent financial assistance. Friends and family, believing the messages are genuine, may transfer money, resulting in financial losses.
Authorities have warned that the scam is becoming increasingly widespread and sophisticated, with criminals exploiting trust between contacts to carry out the fraud.
RUSA has urged the public to exercise extreme caution when receiving unexpected links or requests for verification codes, even if they appear to come from someone familiar.
“Never share your verification code with anyone,” the unit emphasised, adding that awareness and vigilance remain key to preventing further incidents.
Members of the public are encouraged to warn friends and family and report suspicious activity to help curb the growing trend.
