HYDERABAD: Cybercriminals are increasingly using WhatsApp to carry out fraud, with a new tactic dubbed the ‘Image Scam’ emerging as the latest threat. In a recent case, a man from Jabalpur lost a significant amount of money after falling victim to this scam.
Scammers are reportedly leveraging steganography – a technique that hides malicious code within image files – to execute the fraud. These doctored images are sent via WhatsApp and appear harmless at first glance.
When the recipient opens the image, the malware automatically installs itself on the device and begins extracting sensitive information.
Experts caution users not to open photos, videos, or links sent from unknown numbers. To avoid such attacks, users are also advised to disable the auto-download feature in WhatsApp settings.
