FIA Alerts About Cybercriminals Targeting WhatsApp Accounts in Pakistan.
FIA spox says noticeable increase in reports of WhatsApp accounts being compromised
Tariq Ali 
Islamabad: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has issued a public advisory regarding a significant rise in WhatsApp account breaches, particularly highlighting the targeting of women's accounts.
As per the FIA spokesperson, cybercriminals are resorting to sophisticated methods like phishing and social engineering to illicitly access users' personal data.
In recent weeks, there has been a noticeable surge in reports concerning compromised WhatsApp accounts. The perpetrators exploit these compromised accounts to gain access to personal conversations, photos, and videos, later exploiting them for blackmail and other nefarious purposes.
The phishing tactics utilized by these cybercriminals often involve misleading messages aimed at deceiving users into disclosing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links. Furthermore, social engineering techniques exacerbate unauthorized access, with female users bearing the brunt of these attacks disproportionately.
To safeguard WhatsApp accounts from such breaches, the FIA has provided several recommendations:
- Activate two-step verification: This added security layer helps thwart unauthorized entry into your account.
- Exercise caution with unknown messages: Refrain from opening messages, photos, videos, or files from unfamiliar or suspicious sources, as they could contain harmful links or malware.
- Regularly update privacy settings: Reviewing and updating your WhatsApp privacy settings can help restrict access to your personal data.
In the unfortunate event of a WhatsApp account breach, the FIA suggests taking immediate steps:
- Contact FIA helpline 1991: Report the incident or visit the nearest FIA cybercrime circle for assistance.
- Seek support from WhatsApp: Contact WhatsApp Help to regain control of your account and fortify it against further unauthorized access.
- Inform your contacts: Notify your close acquaintances about the breach to prevent potential misuse of your account for fraudulent activities.
