Essential Tips to Protect your WhatsApp

What is WhatsApp?

The  modern messaging app that lets you send messages, photos, and even make video calls to family and friends—all at no cost!

WhatsApp boasts over 2.8 billion active users. Whether you’re chatting with family, friends, pen pals, or simply enjoying conversations in your alumni group, it has become an essential part of daily life.

 It’s like having a personal post office. But just like you wouldn’t leave your front door unlocked, it’s important to keep your WhatsApp account secure.

Let’s look at some tactics scammers use on WhatsApp:

1. WhatsApp Group Meeting Scam
   1. How it works: scammers pretend to be group members and ask for a one-time passcode to join a video call, and then using the code to access the victim’s WhatsApp account on another device.
   2. Safety tip: Turn on Two-Step Verification to protect your account.
   3. Why it’s dangerous: The scammer gains access to your chat history and contacts your friends and family, pretending to need money and taking advantage of their trust.
2. The “Family Emergency” Scam
   1. How it works: You might receive a message like: “Hi Grandma, it’s Sarah! I lost my phone—can you send $500 to this new number right away?”
   2. Why it’s dangerous: Scammers pretend to be a loved one in trouble, hoping you’ll act quickly out of worry.
   3. What to do: Always call the person directly using a number you already have saved. Never send money without confirming it’s really them.
3. Fake Prize Alerts
   1. Example: “Congratulations! You’ve won a free cruise! Click here to claim your prize.”
   2. The catch: These links often steal your personal information or infect your phone with viruses.
   3. Golden rule: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Your WhatsApp Safety Checklist

Let’s secure your WhatsApp account like you would secure your front door:

1. Lock the Door (Two-Step Verification)
   1. What it does: Adds a secret PIN (like a password) to your account.
   2. How to set it up
      1. Open WhatsApp > Settings (the gear icon) > Account > Two-Step Verification.
      2. Create a 6-digit PIN you’ll remember.
2. Control Who Sees You
   1. Adjust privacy settings to keep strangers out.
   2. Last Seen: Set to “My Contacts” (so only friends see when you’re online).
   3. Profile Photo: Hide it from people not in your contacts.
3. Check Your Linked Devices Regularly
   1. The linked devices feature allows a user to connect their WhatsApp account to other devices like a computer or second phone.
   2. How to check linked devices:
      • Open WhatsApp > Settings > Linked Devices
      • Review all devices linked to your account.
      • Log out any device you don’t recognize.
4. Use the “Block & Report” Tool
   1. If a message feels “off,” press and hold it > tap Block & Report. This alerts WhatsApp to investigate.
5. Update Regularly
   1. Updates fix security holes. Enable automatic updates in your phone’s app store.

What to Do If You’re Scammed

1. Stay calm and tell a family member immediately.
2. Contact your bank if money was sent—they can sometimes reverse transactions.
3. Contact WhatsApp Support: https://www.whatsapp.com/contact/?subject=messenger
4. Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.