Scammers always develop new strategies to deceive people and take their hard-earned money. Unwanted foreign calls and texts advertising part-time work are con artists’ most recent scam methods. This has become a significant issue in India, where many seek additional income alternatives. Taking advantage of the circumstance, con artists are duping victims into handing up their money.
Here are some actions you should do to protect yourself if you are receiving these calls and messages:
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Block and Report
The first thing you should do after receiving an unwanted call from a foreign number is to block the caller. To accomplish this, touch on the contact’s name at the top of the WhatsApp chat screen containing the spam call. Choose “Block” from the options by scrolling down. You can stop further contact from that phone by blocking the contact.
It is also crucial to inform WhatsApp about the spam call. Tap on the contact’s name in the conversation associated with the spam call. The “Report” option can be found by scrolling down; choose it. This step aids WhatsApp in locating the spammer and taking appropriate action against them, making the platform safer for all users.
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Strengthen Privacy Settings
Review and tighten your WhatsApp privacy settings to reduce the possibility of getting unauthorised calls from foreign numbers. By changing your settings, you may limit who can contact you and lessen the likelihood of receiving spam calls. You may access your privacy settings by launching WhatsApp and going to “Settings” > “Account” > “Privacy.”
Think about the following privacy choices:
- Who Can Call Me? Choose “My Contacts” if you’d prefer only to take calls from contacts saved on your phone.
- Who Can See My Last Seen: To limit who can see your online status, set this option to “My Contacts” or “Nobody”.
- Choosing “My Contacts” or “Nobody” will allow you to decide who can see your profile image.
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Enable Two-Step Verification
Through two-step verification, WhatsApp adds an extra degree of protection. Enabling this function gives your account a second PIN or password, preventing unauthorised access. The verification PIN is still required to start WhatsApp on a device, even if a spammer manages to get your phone number.
Open WhatsApp and select “Settings” > “Account” > “Two-step verification” to enable two-step verification. To create a special PIN, adhere to the instructions. Select a PIN that is simple for you to remember but challenging for others to decipher.
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Update WhatsApp Regularly
Keep your WhatsApp programme updated to avoid exposure to potential flaws and security gaps. The developers routinely release updates that address security issues and enhance the app’s general performance. Check the app store on your device frequently to see if there are any new versions of WhatsApp, then install them immediately. Maintaining the most recent version of WhatsApp will improve your defence against spam calls and other security risks.
