Beware WhatsApp users! Got a message from technical team? DO NOT do this

Have you recently got a message from WhatsApp’s technical team? Well, you need to be really careful as a simple reply can lead to a lot of trouble. With the increasing popularity of the messaging platform, hackers are now targeting it to fool WhatsApp users. WhatsApp tracker WABetaInfo, in a tweet highlighted a new scam that is targeting users. 

“WhatsApp never asks your data or verification codes,” the website wrote in response to a query from a Twitter user Dario Navarro who asked if a message requesting the verification code had indeed been sent by WhatsApp.

Navarro apparently got a message from an account claiming to be WhatApp’s Technical Team. The message asked Navarro to verify his identity by providing the six-digit verification code that is sent to a user via an SMS when they register their WhatsApp accounts. It had WhatsApp logo as the profile picture.

What’s wrong here?

Well, WhatsApp doesn’t drop messages to its users like that. WABetaInfo explained that WhatsApp does not send personal messages to its users to make announcements and definitely not to ask them to verify their accounts. The company uses its blog and its official social media handles to relay messages as needed. 

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In a rare circumstance, if the company does decide to send messages to its users, it would come from an account with a green tick next to it. This would indicate that it's a verified account. Additionally, the company NEVER asks users for their verification codes.

Why you should not reply?

The Facebook owned platform on its official page states that users must not share their verification codes with anyone. 

“To keep your account safe, don't share your verification code with others...When you receive this notification, it means that someone has entered your phone number and requested the registration code. This often happens if another user mistyped your number when trying to enter their own number to register, and can also happen when someone attempts to take over your account,” WhatsApp says.