ISLAMABAD: Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), a Pakistan-based non-profit organisation, has issued an alert regarding a growing WhatsApp scam in the country, in which attackers attempt to hack user accounts through fraudulent calls requesting verification codes.
WhatsApp remains one of the most widely used messaging platforms in Pakistan, with an estimated 52 million users in 2024, according to the World Population Review, ranking the country seventh globally in terms of user base. Its popularity extends beyond personal use, with the platform even being recommended in the legal sector to enhance communication efficiency.
However, a surge in digital scams is putting users’ data and account security at risk.
In a recent alert, the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF)—advocating for digital rights since 2013—reported receiving multiple complaints about an ongoing scam targeting WhatsApp users. According to the foundation, attackers are attempting to hack accounts through deceptive calls requesting verification codes.
“Victims receive calls from delivery riders, or from individuals pretending to be from the HEC (Higher Education Commission), and are prompted to share a code that compromises their WhatsApp,” the alert said.
“Victims receive calls from individuals pretending to be representatives of the HEC. They claim the victim’s educational degrees need urgent verification and ask for a verification code,” DRF told Dawn.com. “Sharing the code results in the victim’s WhatsApp account being compromised.”
The foundation stressed that while some courier companies used codes for deliveries, these codes were always sent from the company’s official number.
“Always check the sender’s name and consult the courier company’s official helpline before you share,” it said. “Remember: never share any other codes with anyone, no matter how much they insist.”
It also advised citizens to report scam calls to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s official complaint cell at 0800-55055.
The Digital Rights Foundation’s (DRF) Digital Security Helpline assists victims of hacking by guiding them through steps to raise awareness on social media, recover their compromised accounts, and report incidents for potential legal action. The helpline also offers digital security advice and escalates cases to relevant platforms, particularly for individuals at high risk.
Earlier this month, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency carried out a successful raid on an illegal call centre in Islamabad, arresting five foreign nationals, according to a press release.
