A recent alert from OneCard highlights the growing threat of WhatsApp Screen Mirroring Fraud, a scam that has already affected numerous customers. The core issue lies in the exploitation of screen sharing features within WhatsApp, leading to potential financial and personal data breaches.
The scam works by tricking users into enabling screen sharing, allowing fraudsters to gain access to critical information such as OTPs, bank details, passwords, and messages. This access can quickly lead to compromised accounts and significant financial loss.
Fraudsters often impersonate bank employees or financial representatives to gain your trust. They create a false sense of urgency by claiming there is an issue with your account and need to see your screen. They will then guide you through the process of starting a screen share and then request a WhatsApp video call to further the deception.
When screen sharing is active, scammers have direct visibility into your mobile screen, which they then use to observe sensitive information. The criminals use the guise of confirming a transaction to trick victims into inputting OTPs or PINs.
Keylogger apps also pose a significant risk. These malicious applications record all keystrokes, including passwords and other private information. This enables fraudsters to steal bank and social media passwords. Many banking websites now use on-screen keyboards to circumvent this threat.
Once the fraudsters obtain your personal and financial details, they can proceed to engage in various illicit activities, including unauthorized transactions, identity theft, and draining your bank accounts.