The National CERT Pakistan has issued a nationwide advisory warning citizens about a sharp rise in WhatsApp hacking incidents, as cybercriminals increasingly target users through fraud and social engineering scams.
According to the advisory, attackers are using deceptive methods such as malicious links disguised as promotional offers, fake bank updates, impersonation of officials or acquaintances, and requests for one-time passwords to gain unauthorized access to accounts.
Officials said several recent cases involved hackers posing as friends or family members and then using compromised accounts to request urgent financial help from personal contacts, resulting in monetary losses.
The National CERT has strongly urged users to immediately enable Two Step Verification on WhatsApp, describing it as a critical security layer that blocks access even if an OTP is compromised.
Under the feature, users must create a six digit PIN, which acts as an additional barrier against unauthorized logins on both Android and iPhone devices.
The advisory also urges citizens to avoid sharing OTPs or PINs, refrain from clicking suspicious links, and always verify financial requests through a direct phone call, warning that attackers often exploit urgency and emotional pressure to deceive victims.