WhatsApp account theft grows 672% in Mexico: this is how they operate

Hacking and the WhatsApp account theft increased since the beginning of 2024, to the point that the Citizen Council for Security and Justice (CCPSJ) from Mexico reports that the increase in hacks is 672%, compared to the figures for 2023, here we tell you How criminals operate and what they ask for to recover them.

Although security technology has improved, the truth is that account theft techniques adapt to change, and the growing number of hacks demonstrates this, according to the CCPSJ.

And the Citizen Council for Security and Justice (CCPSJ) detected that the WhatsApp account hacks increased by 672%%.

The figures found in Mexico indicate that this year there were 139 cases of theft, in contrast to the 18 cases reported during 2023.

WhatsApp account theft grows by 672%: how they operate and what they ask for

In addition, it is mentioned that the thieves They ask for between 3,000 and 5,000 pesos to return the bill.

The people behind the hacks use social engineering techniques tboth to steal accounts and to convince those affected not to report the incident to the authorities.

This is what he mentions Salvador Guerrero Chipres, President of the CCPSJ, for Expansion:

“It’s a criminal model, delinquent, designed to go unreported. […] If each criminal cell of three people were to obtain 20 pesos a day, for 3,000 pesos, it would be 60,000 pesos a day.”

WhatsApp hacking scams confirmed

On the other hand, ESET, a company dedicated to protection against cybersecurity threats, Last month he presented some examples of How accounts are stolen of WhatsApp in Latin America.

In Colombia, the Scammers impersonate WhatsApp staffwhile in Argentina they used the pandemic as an excuse to obtain information under the pretext of the coronavirus vaccination process.

Fabiana Ramírez, a computer security researcher at ESET Latin America, describes it this way:

“He Mexico’s example is paradigmatic:In the first two months of 2024, WhatsApp account hijacking grew by more than 650% compared to the same months of the previous year.”

The analysis of the CCPSJ and ESET points to a growing trend on the part of thieves of counts to commit fraud and scams.

More possibility of fraud on WhatsApp if you access Facebook or Instagram

And this is just in relation to WhatsApp; the numbers would surely increase even more if there were information about other social networks such as Facebook or Instagram.

How do I make my WhatsApp more secure to avoid hacking, theft and scams?

To strengthen the security of your WhatsApp account, one of the most effective options is the two-step authentication.

The official page of WhatsApp It has a step-by-step guide to activate this security system.

Similarly, there are applications for reliable authentication, such as Google Authenticator o Microsoft Authenticator.

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