Experts: Don’t Share, Stay Calm, Secure Your Account —3 Tips to Prevent WhatsApp Scams

Shin Min Daily News, 专家：不给 沉着 加密 3招防WhatsApp骗局

(Summarised translation)

Recently, multiple members of the public have had their WhatsApp accounts hijacked, with some losing thousands of dollars as a result. Experts have offered three key prevention tips — “do not give,” “stay calm,” and “secure (encrypt)” — to avoid falling victim to WhatsApp account takeover scams.

Victor Keong, Senior Lecturer in Information Systems Technology and Design at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), said that the public must remember that WhatsApp’s six-digit verification code is equivalent to an “account key” and should never be shared with anyone. Even if the person claims to be someone familiar, their identity should be verified through other channels such as a phone call.

The public should also stay vigilant and be aware of common scam tactics, avoiding making rushed decisions driven by emotion. For example, phrases such as “I need this within two minutes,” “I sent it wrongly, please help me,” and “WhatsApp is about to lock my account” are commonly used by scammers.

He also emphasised that enabling “two-step verification” is the most critical protective measure. Once activated, even if scammers obtain the SMS verification code (OTP), they still cannot take over the account without the second verification code.

“Members of the public should regularly check connected devices, set up security locks on their phones, and enable relevant security settings to reduce the risk of account compromise from multiple angles.”