There has been a spike in WhatsApp account hacking incidents in Montserrat, according to the Royal Montserrat Police Service.
A Facebook post on 11 October said scammers are taking over users’ accounts and sending fraudulent money requests to their contacts.
Police have asked the public to be aware that they often gain control of accounts by convincing victims to send them a verification code.
Once they have access, scammers then message the victim’s contacts, asking for money under false pretences.
To help protect against these attacks, residents are urged to enable two-step verification on their WhatsApp accounts and to be cautious of unexpected money requests.
Users should never share verification codes and should verify unusual requests through a different communication method, such as a phone call.
Any suspicious activity can be reported to WhatsApp or the police at police@gov.ms or (664) 491-2555.
“Your safety is our top priority,” the post emphasised. “Stay vigilant, verify unexpected requests, and never share verification codes.”
