Scammers Can Hijack Your WhatsApp Without You Knowing, S’pore Man Warns After Over RM4K Scam Attempt

Account takeover scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, putting social media users and online communities across Singapore and Malaysia at risk.

Taking to Instagram, Singaporean content creator @sparkkpistols shared a chilling account of how scammers secretly gained access to his WhatsApp account and used it to impersonate him. The scammer then contacted one of his friends, attempting to trick her into making an urgent money transfer.

“Police report made. Please read. This is the POV from my friend’s chat. There’s a confusion of the earlier post on a certain company that was data hacked. No it is not.

“My WhatsApp got hacked and I didn’t know I was having conversation with my friend. Got alerted through IG where my friend ask if it was me which I showed her from my POV chat there is no me chatting with her,” the user cautioned in his viral post.

Scammer asked for RM4,140 transfer, got caught using Google Translate

In a follow-up video detailing the incident, Faiz explained that the scammer, posing as him via WhatsApp, contacted a friend claiming that his daily bank account limit had been reached.

The imposter requested an urgent advance payment of  SGD 1300 (RM4,140) to pay a “furniture seller,” sending an overseas QR code for the transaction.

However, the attentive friend immediately suspected something was amiss.

Speaking to WORLD OF BUZZ, the user shared how the scammer’s unusual speech pattern exposed the ruse:

“My friend was the one who thought that she was talking to me because the scammer impersonated me from my WhatsApp account. She felt like I don’t talk the way I usually talk, so she tested the chat with Malay language.

“Then the scammer just replied via Google Translate, which was even more suspicious because they used the word ‘sayang’ in their conversation, which I had no idea about,” the user added.

Feeling uneasy, the friend reached out directly to the user via Instagram DMs to verify the conversation. The user was shocked to discover that while the friend was actively receiving messages from his phone number on WhatsApp, no record of these sent messages appeared on his own device.

Official police report lodged, warning extended across borders

Upon realising the account takeover, the user lodged an official police report via the Singapore Police Force’s I-Witness portal to document the cyber crime.

Although based in Singapore, the user emphasised that this scam tactic is widely relevant to users across the Causeway, noting that many Malaysians have also come forward reporting identical hijacking experiences.

“Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account for added protection. Although I’m based in Singapore, I wanted to share this with everyone because several Malaysians have also reached out to tell me they experienced the same thing,” he said.

How to secure your WhatsApp account from hijackers

According to the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, account hijacking often occurs when scammers trick users into sharing verification codes or exploit linked web sessions. To safeguard your WhatsApp, follow these essential security steps:

• Enable 2FA: Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification and set up a personal 6-digit PIN alongside an email link. This prevents anyone from logging into your account on another device without the PIN.

• Check Linked Devices Regularly: Go to WhatsApp Settings > Linked Devices and log out of any unrecognized web sessions.

• Never Share OTP Codes: Never share 6-digit WhatsApp registration codes or SMS OTPs with anyone, even if the request appears to come from a friend or trusted contact.

• Verify Via Alternative Channels: If a friend messages you asking for money or urgent favors on messaging apps, always place a direct voice call or verify via another platform before making any transactions.

Have you or your friends ever encountered hijacked messaging accounts? Share your experiences in the comments section below!

Also read: M’sian Couple Accused of Stealing RM50 They Found at KL Mall, Allegedly Asked to Pay More