Mobile network operator TNM is urging Malawians to turn on two-step verification on their WhatsApp accounts, as complaints mount from customers who say they have lost access to WhatsApp accounts.
In a public notice TNM said it is aware of reports of compromised WhatsApp accounts and is working with Meta, the company that operates WhatsApp, to resolve the problem. The company said the problem is not limited to Malawi and is affecting users in several countries.
“We are aware of reports regarding WhatsApp accounts being compromised, TNM is working closely with Meta to help resolve the issue” reads part of the statement.
According to the reports, cybercriminals take over a victim’s WhatsApp account and then message people in the victim’s contact list, asking them for money. Because the messages appear to come from a friend, relative or colleague, recipients are more likely to trust them and send cash.
Scammers are also circulating links that, once opened, give them direct access to a person’s WhatsApp account. Authorities say such links are a common entry point for account takeovers.
Meanwhile, for some victims, the consequences go beyond survival, Memory Simwinga, one of those affected, says the problem has badly hurt her business because she relies solely on WhatsApp to conduct her daily trade.
Simwinga says she was hacked and locked out of her account twice. She is calling on the relevant authorities to urgently act on the matter.
TNM has advised customers to never share verification codes or PINs with anyone and to avoid clicking suspicious links or replying to messages from unknown numbers.
Malawi’s Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act prescribes a fine of K2 million and up to five years imprisonment for unauthorised access to data. Those who hack accounts could, therefore, face prosecution if caught.
