🚨 Cayman Islands authorities warn of WhatsApp scam

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) and the Cayman Islands Government Information Security Office have issued a warning to WhatsApp users about a scam that allows the scammers to hijack the victim's account. Once the account is under the scammer's control, they can send messages to the victim's contacts, pretending to be the victim, until the account is recovered. 📱

The scammers can gain control of the victim's account by sending an SMS text message, a WhatsApp message, or making a phone call from an unknown number, or even impersonating someone known to the victim. There have been reports of scammers using deep-fake audio technology to mimic a person's voice. The victim receives a message designed to cause alarm and prompt immediate action, such as providing their six-digit WhatsApp verification code. Once the scammers have this code, they can take over the account and use it for fraudulent purposes. Despite previous warnings, people continue to fall victim to this scam. 🚨

WhatsApp users are advised to remain vigilant and never share their six-digit WhatsApp code with anyone. If a suspicious message is received, users should not respond, open any attachments, or click on any links within the message. 🛡️