Direct Exploitation via WhatsApp Itself

[aburaihan66]

News reports frequently highlight the risks and potential actions someone can take if they get hold of your WhatsApp number. While WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption for messages, your phone number itself is a crucial piece of personal information that can be exploited in various ways.

Here's a breakdown of what someone can do with your WhatsApp number, according to recent news and cybersecurity warnings:


WhatsApp Account Takeover (The Biggest Risk): This oman whatsapp number data is the most prevalent and dangerous scam widely reported by police forces (like West Midlands Police, Derbyshire Police) and cybersecurity firms (Kaspersky, Bitdefender).

How it works: The scammer tries to register your WhatsApp number on their own device. This triggers a 6-digit verification code to be sent to your phone. The scammer then tries to trick you (often by impersonating a friend, family member, or a business, sometimes even calling from a compromised contact's number) into sharing that code.
What they can do: If you share the code, they gain full control of your WhatsApp account. They can then:
Impersonate you: Message your friends and family, often asking for money or personal information, leveraging your trusted relationships.
Access your groups: See and participate in all your WhatsApp groups.
Lock you out: You lose access to your own account.
They cannot read past encrypted messages that were sent before the takeover, as these are stored on your device, not WhatsApp's servers.
Spam and Unwanted Messages/Calls:

News: Reports of "WhatsApp spam calls" and messages from unknown international numbers offering fake job opportunities, part-time work, or impersonating brands are on the rise.
What they can do: If someone has your number, they can initiate contact with you on WhatsApp. They might add you to unsolicited groups, send you spam messages, or make unwanted calls (voice or video).