Scam Alert: Dangerous scam going on on WhatsApp, bank account will be emptied as soon as you download photo-video

A new scam is going on these days on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook. Your bank account can be emptied as soon as you download photos and videos. The Department of Telecommunications has warned users about this.

DoT has asked users to beware of new types of scams. The telecom regulator has also forbidden people from downloading photos, videos, etc. from instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, and Telegram. Hackers these days send dangerous malware i.e. viruses to users' phones through photos and videos, which steals their bank account details. The Department of Telecommunications has also suggested some measures to avoid such scams.

New dangerous scam

Smartphone has become a necessity for users these days. Users do not use their phones only for calling, but can also access UPI transactions, banks etc. through it. In such a situation, if someone gets access to your phone, then your bank account can be hacked. Scammers are always trying to scam people by adopting new methods. This type of scam has been named Steganography.

The Department of Telecommunications, while giving information about this new fraud from its official X handle, said that scammers share photos or videos using social media platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, Instagram in the name of an invite or offer etc. Users download those photos or videos in the phone after seeing the new offer or invite etc. As soon as they do this, scammers inject dangerous viruses into the users' phone and take access to their phone.

Phone hacked through photo-video

Many times users do not even know and photos and videos get automatically downloaded in their phone through apps like WhatsApp, Instagram. Such users will have to go to the settings of these apps and turn off the option of automatic download of photos and videos. This will give two types of benefits to the users. Firstly, the data on their phone will not be exhausted quickly and secondly, such scams can be avoided.

How to avoid Steganography?

The Department of Telecommunications has forbidden users from downloading photos, audio and videos received from any unknown number. Along with such media files, scammers also share a link with the user. Knowingly or unknowingly, users open these links, through which hackers gain access to the user's phone.