From Our Correspondent
JOWAI, May 23: The Office of the West Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police has issued an advisory following a surge in complaints regarding hacked WhatsApp accounts in Jowai, which has caused significant distress among residents.
According to a statement, since May 18, numerous individuals have reported that their WhatsApp accounts were compromised by unknown hackers.
The attackers, after gaining control of the accounts, have been sending fraudulent messages to the victims’ contacts—posing as the account holders and requesting money. This has resulted in widespread confusion and panic among recipients, many of whom were initially unaware of the scam.
“Victims of the scam have reported receiving urgent money requests from friends and family members, who, in reality, are not the ones initiating the communication. The police team is currently investigating these incidents,” the statement said.
In light of this alarming trend, the police have urged the public to remain vigilant and adopt precautionary measures.
Citizens have been advised not to engage with unsolicited messages from unknown contacts and should always verify the sender’s identity through alternate means before responding. Further, suspicious links and attachments, especially from unfamiliar sources, should be avoided, as they could lead to phishing websites or introduce malware to the device.
“Refrain from sharing One-Time Passwords (OTPs) or other sensitive information unless you are certain of the authenticity of the request. Always confirm the source before sharing such details,” the statement said.
Further, enabling WhatsApp’s two-step verification feature is strongly recommended, as it provides an added layer of security to prevent unauthorised access.
“If you believe your WhatsApp account has been hacked, immediately log out of all devices and contact WhatsApp support. Additionally, report the incident to local police station for further investigation,” the statement said.
For cybercrime-related issues, the public has been asked to file online complaints at www.cybercrime.gov.in. Similarly, in cases of financial fraud, the public has been asked to dial 1930 for prompt assistance.