Police have flagged four Kenyan phone numbers allegedly used by scammers targeting WhatsApp users.
Speaking during a press briefing at the police headquarters in Naguru, police spokesperson ACP Rusoke Kituuma revealed that the cybercrime unit has received numerous complaints regarding these numbers used by scammers.
According to Kituuma, the scammers block victims’ WhatsApp accounts and send them verification codes, claiming they need to pay for re-registration.
Once the victims send the money, the fraudsters demand additional payments, tricking them into believing they could win large sums.
“Even if the victims refuse to send more money, the initial amount paid is enough for the scammers to profit. The moment they gain access to your WhatsApp account, they begin contacting your friends, family, and groups, pretending to be you. Many unsuspecting individuals have lost money due to this scheme,” Kituuma warned.
The identified scam numbers are; +254735002953 under the name Dr.Howell Kirui, +254754033882 under Dominic Kosek, +254787947086 under the name Hominley Ezra and + 254105218443 under the name Kibet Kinandet +254735002953 Registered under the name Dr. Howell Kirui
Kituuma emphasized that scammers exploit people’s desperation and lack of awareness.
“They lure victims by sending fake lottery messages, claiming they have won money in a competition they never participated in. People must remember that to win a lottery, you must first enter one.”
According to experts, hackers can break WhatsApp by tricking users into giving away verification codes, using spyware, sending malware as attachments, or even cloning phones or WhatsApp accounts.
The experts however say an attack is successful only after you interact with the attacker in some way, such as clicking on a link, downloading a file, or responding to a message.
“Therefore, when you receive a suspicious message, the best action is to report and delete it.”
Police urged Ugandans to be vigilant and avoid sharing verification codes or personal information with unknown individuals.
They also advised the public to listen to advice of experts like telecom companies.
