Mobile phone users in Pakistan, particularly women, have been warned about a WhatsApp scam in which fraudsters impersonate courier company representatives to take control of accounts and solicit money from victims’ contacts.
Under the scam, users receive WhatsApp calls from people claiming to represent well-known courier services. The caller tells the victim that a parcel is awaiting delivery and asks for a verification code to confirm the delivery or address.
The code is actually the one-time password (OTP) used to register the victim’s WhatsApp account on another device.
Once the victim shares the code, scammers can gain control of the account and begin contacting the victim’s family members, friends and colleagues while posing as the account holder.
Fraudsters typically claim to be facing an urgent financial emergency and ask contacts to transfer money immediately, relying on the apparent familiarity and credibility of the compromised WhatsApp account.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has urged users never to disclose WhatsApp verification codes or OTPs, regardless of who requests them.
People receiving calls about parcel deliveries have also been advised to independently contact the courier company through its official channels instead of relying on information provided by the caller.
Authorities have warned that similar techniques may involve criminals posing as representatives of banks, mobile operators, government departments or other trusted organisations to obtain confidential information.
Users have been reminded that a WhatsApp verification code should never be shared with another person, as legitimate organisations do not require access to it to provide their services.