Police warning over WhatsApp account takeover scam

Police in Derbyshire have issued a warning over a rise in scammers attempting to take over people's WhatsApp accounts.

The force said fraudsters had been infiltrating large group chats on the app - including religious and faith organisations, university students, NHS staff groups, and businesses - to target individuals.

The victim is contacted within the chat and told a code is on its way, which they are subsequently asked to share.

However, this is the verification code for their WhatsApp account and sharing it gives the fraudster access to the account and contact list, which they can use to try to extract money from friends and family members.

Samantha Hancock, a cyber protection officer at Derbyshire Police, told the BBC: "My message is to never forward or disclose a code you receive via WhatsApp."

Ms Hancock said a recent case cost a victim £600 and a student group at the University of Derby was messaged by someone they thought was their lecturer asking to send them their WhatsApp codes to join a group call.

She added one scammer who took control of a taxi driver's WhatsApp was asking for payments for jobs up-front they had booked in for.

An alert was pushed by the force after officers were made aware of stolen funds being converted into Nigerian currency, but Ms Hancock added this sort of crime could happen from inside the UK and abroad.

The officer said faith and religious groups in particular were a main target for scammers - often in large groups where each person may not know every single participant.

"We've had reports of the person asking for codes in these groups having a picture in their bio of the organisation logo, so they think they are talking to someone they know and trust within that community," Ms Hancock told the BBC.

"When that person has control, they are messaging in your name and image - they will go through friends and family asking to borrow money.

"If this happens, give them a call on their mobile phone to verify this - not on WhatsApp."

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