An unknown number from India is calling you on WhatsApp? We’ll tell you what it’s all about.
You should avoid unknown numbers on WhatsApp. (Source: prykhodov/[email protected] / depositphotos.com/Montage: Netzwelt)
- More and more unknown Indian numbers are trying to reach you via WhatsApp. There is probably an attempted fraud behind it, the aim of which is not yet clear.
- Instead of an Indian number, cybercriminals sometimes use other foreign numbers.
- If you activate a new function in Messenger, the telephone terror stops.
On WhatsApp it happens from time to time that strangers contact you. Most of the time, the anonymous senders are up to no good, as the grandchild trick shows. Currently it is mainly foreign contacts who do not write to you in the chat, but rather call you.
At the forefront are numbers from India, which you can recognize by the country code +91. But no one dialed wrong. There is a new scam behind this.
WhatsApp innovation: telephone number is replaced
The change brings these advantages
WhatsApp is planning a further step towards more privacy. In the future, you should be able to contact other users without exchanging your phone number.
The callers use the ping call technology. They only call you briefly and then immediately hang up in the hope that you will call back blindly. They try to reach you with both voice calls and video calls.
The target of the scam
It is still unclear what exactly the callers’ intention with the scam is. Because while ping calls are about getting people to call back expensive numbers, calls via WhatsApp are free. This is probably simply an attempt to get in touch with you and gain your trust in order to prepare an attempt at fraud. The approach also has parallels to a nasty trick that fraudsters can use to take over your WhatsApp account.
You fall into the trap if you call the number back. This is intended to order call forwarding from your provider. If the trick works, your calls and text messages will be forwarded to a criminal number. They change the number in your WhatsApp account and hijack it.
Spam calls also from other countries
You don’t just get spam calls like this from India. In recent weeks, numbers from Brazil, Pakistan and other countries have also been used for the trick. In any case, we advise against answering or returning calls. You should also not come into contact with scammers on other messengers.
If you are annoyed by the constant calls, you should activate a new function in Messenger. It mutes calls from unknown numbers. You will still see these in your call list, but you will not be notified of them when they arrive. The tool has been available since June 2023.
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