Scammers have been using technology to trick people for decades, and with the rise of smartphones and instant messaging apps, they have found new ways to do so. One of the newest scams making the rounds is conducted through the popular instant messaging app, WhatsApp. The most alarming aspect of this scam is that one doesn’t even have to answer the call to get scammed or have their data leaked. A missed call is enough to trigger the scam.
WhatsApp Missed Call Scam
The WhatsApp missed call scam works in a similar way to the infamous Pegasus spyware developed by NSO Group. Initially, Pegasus was sold exclusively to government bodies worldwide, but now scammers have found ways to access it. With the WhatsApp missed call scam, an unknown international number, with codes like +64, +41, or any unknown code, could trigger this scam. AI-generated scam calls can then latch onto the data of the prey.
According to Amit Dubey, a Cyber Crime Investigator, “Pegasus and its replicas are now being used to fish for data. Other scams are usually where you talk to a caller on the other end and give them access to your information, but this one doesn’t need human intervention. In fact, the incoming call gets cut in a single ring because it doesn’t want you to pick up the call.” The best advice to stay away from phishing calls is to not engage, but with Pegasus-led WhatsApp missed call scams, it’s out of the hands of the user.
Tips to safeguard your Data
To safeguard your data, you must change your basic privacy settings on your phone and the WhatsApp app. The calls are targeted toward users who are active on the app, but by changing your account display, you can reduce the chances of getting on the scammers’ hit lists. Here are some steps you can take to safeguard your data:
- Restrict Privacy: Change the ‘who can see’ settings on WhatsApp. If your profile picture and last seen and online status are allowed to everyone, change it to people in your contact list only. Similarly, change the About, and Groups settings as well.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication: By enabling two-factor authentication on your WhatsApp, an added security layer gets added to your data. Furthermore, the app requires authentication from your email address, which enhances overall data protection.
- Block & Report: If you have received such calls already, report and block them immediately. This ensures that the same number doesn’t make its way back to your phone, and many similar reports can encourage WhatsApp to disable the number completely.
WhatsApp also has an update in the pipeline that will enable users to not allow calls from unknown numbers on the app.
Many people wonder where scammers get their phone numbers from. The answer is more complex than one might think. When you sign up for a website or share your phone number at a store to avail of promotional offers and deals, your data gets stored on the company database. Given the weak tech infrastructure and missing laws to protect this data, scammer can easily get their hands on your data.
Domino’s India Data Breach
An attack on Domino’s India led to a data breach that leaked the data of over 18 crore people. Similar mass data breaches occurred when the Mumbai electricity grid in 2021 was attacked, and Sun Pharma was the victim of a ransomware attack. In terms of cyberattacks and data breaches, India is ranked the second most vulnerable country in the APAC region, according to a Palo Alto report.
The data protection bill is all set to be tabled in the monsoon session of the parliament. The bill will potentially safeguard data and take down scams. However, until the country has concrete data protection laws, the responsibility for data safety lies with the user.
At our platform, we make an effort to create awareness regarding data privacy, scams, frauds, and individual security online. We offer legal services to assist you with any such incidents that may arise. If you have any concerns, feel free to write us on Whatsapp or Email Us and explain your situation. Additionally, subscribing to our newsletter will provide you with more valuable content on these topics.