Requests for money or sensitive information

[aburaihan66]

Do you know the person? If it's a known contact, it's usually fine.
Is it professional? If it's a business, verify their identity through official channels (e.g., their official website, a known customer service line).
Does it feel "off"? Trust your instincts.
Be Wary of Red Flags (Common in Scam News):

Urgency: "I need this now!"
Too good to be true offers: High-paying jobs with no experience, guaranteed high investment returns.
Poor grammar/spelling (though sophisticated scammers avoid this now).
Especially if unprompted or from an unknown number.
Moving off initial platform too quickly: If they insist on moving from LinkedIn, a dating app, or an email to WhatsApp immediately.
Unrecognized numbers asking for verification codes.
Prioritize Your Privacy Settings:

The news confirms that WhatsApp is moving malaysia whatsapp number data beyond just your single registered phone number. You can now use different numbers on the same device via multi-account support, and soon, you'll be able to use a username as an alternative identifier, giving you more control over your phone number's visibility. This reflects a broader trend of enhancing user privacy and flexibility on the platform.

For a long time, the answer to "Why is my WhatsApp number my phone number?" was simply: because that's how WhatsApp was designed to work from day one.

Here's the news and context behind that:

1. Historical Reason: Simplicity and Ubiquity

SMS as the Model: When WhatsApp launched in 2009, its primary goal was to be a simple, reliable, and free alternative to SMS. SMS messages are tied to phone numbers, so building WhatsApp around phone numbers made it instantly familiar and easy for users.
No New Accounts Needed: Unlike email or other messaging apps that required users to create a new username and password, WhatsApp leveraged existing phone numbers.