Phishing attacks are a constant threat

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Mitigation: WhatsApp has introduced features like "Silence Unknown Callers" to combat this, but the numbers can still reach you.
Phishing Attacks:

What they can do: They might send messages (often disguised as legitimate links from banks, shipping companies, or government agencies) to your WhatsApp number, aiming to trick you into clicking malicious links that steal your credentials or install malware.
Social Engineering:

What they can do: Your phone number is a key pakistan whatsapp number data piece of information for social engineering. Combined with other publicly available data (from social media, etc.), it can be used to build a more convincing impersonation or scam scenario.
II. Exploitation Beyond WhatsApp (Leveraging the Number):

SIM Swap Scams:

News: This is a more sophisticated and very dangerous attack, sometimes starting with just your phone number.
What they can do: Scammers contact your mobile carrier, impersonate you, and convince them to transfer your phone number to a SIM card they control. Once they have control of your number, they can receive all your SMS, including OTPs for banking, email, and other online accounts, leading to widespread identity theft and financial fraud.
Data Compilation and Sale:

News: There have been numerous reports (e.g., late 2022) of large databases of WhatsApp user phone numbers being allegedly compiled and sold on the dark web or hacking forums.
What they can do: While these aren't direct hacks of WhatsApp's systems, they mean your number could be part of a list traded among cybercriminals, increasing your exposure to all the risks mentioned above.
Other Online Account Reset Attempts:

What they can do: Many online services use your phone number for password resets. If a malicious actor has your phone number and some other identifying information, they might try to initiate password resets on other platforms (email, banking, social media) to gain access.