📞 WhatsApp Missed Call Scam — The Call One Should Never Return

SYBER SECURE

 How a single missed call can hijack your identity, drain your money, and break your trust.

“In the digital world, even silence can be dangerous—sometimes, the call you missed was maybe a trap.”

🖊️ SHUBHRA • 13th August, 2025 • Cybercrime Awareness & Safety

🔗 Read in Hindi


 

 

☕ A Morning Like Any Other…

It was a quiet Sunday morning.

Ritika, a 28-year-old freelance designer, had just settled with her cup of coffee when her phone buzzed.

One WhatsApp missed call.

The number looked strange — starting with +63, a country code she didn’t recognize. She shrugged, thinking it might be a client from abroad. Out of curiosity, she returned the call.

Within minutes, her WhatsApp crashed. The next time she tried to log in, the app asked for a verification code she never requested. Moments later, her friends started receiving messages from “her” — asking for urgent money transfers.

By the time Ritika regained access, the scammer had tried to con 15 of her contacts.


🔍 What Exactly Is the WhatsApp Missed Call Scam?

The WhatsApp Missed Call Scam is a social engineering + tech manipulation fraud.
It usually works like this:

You receive a missed WhatsApp call from an unknown international number — often from country codes like +62 (Indonesia), +63 (Philippines), +60 (Malaysia), +254 (Kenya), etc.

If you call back or answer, the scammer tricks you into doing something that compromises your account — for example:

  • Asking you to dial a number or enter a code.

  • Sending you a link that installs malware.

  • Getting your 6-digit WhatsApp verification code through voice phishing.

Once they have your verification code, they take over your WhatsApp account and impersonate you to scam your contacts.


⚙️ How the Scam Works

  1. Initial Contact — Scammers target random numbers, often buying leaked phone databases.

  2. Missed Call Bait — They intentionally hang up quickly to make you curious.

  3. Callback Trap — If you call back, they engage you in conversation or direct you to take an action that compromises your account.

  4. Account Takeover — Using social engineering, malware, or OTP theft, they gain control of your WhatsApp.

  5. Impersonation & Fraud — They send urgent messages to your contacts, pretending you need help or offering “investment opportunities.”



📂 Recent Real-Life Cases

“While WhatsApp missed call scams aren’t widely documented, as many don't report, similar scams using WhatsApp calls and impersonation are actively happening — here are real examples…”

1️⃣ WhatsApp DP Fraud — ₹1.94 Crore Transferred

A Hyderabad company’s CFO was duped after scammers impersonated the company’s Managing Director on WhatsApp, complete with his display photo. Believing the messages were genuine, the CFO transferred ₹1.94 crore. Quick police action led to ₹84 lakh recovery and ₹15 lakh frozen. (Economic Times)

2️⃣ Mysuru Senior Citizens Duped — Nearly ₹2 Crore Lost

Two elderly women in Mysuru fell prey to a WhatsApp video scam, where scammers pretended to be Mumbai police. They threatened the women with fabricated legal charges and extracted ₹1.92 crore in “settlement” payments. (TOI)

3️⃣  Greenko Group Impersonation — ₹2.7 Crore Scam

Fraudsters impersonated Greenko Group’s MD on WhatsApp, tricking employees into transferring ₹2.7 crore in two transactions. The fake profile used his real photo to create trust. (TOI)


🚩 Warning Signs 

  • Missed WhatsApp calls from unknown international numbers you don’t recognize.

  • Messages or calls asking you to share your OTP or “verify” your account.

  • Urgent requests for money from a friend or family member over WhatsApp.

  • Links that look suspicious or shortened (bit.ly, tinyurl, etc.).

  • Sudden logout from WhatsApp without your action.



🛡️ How to Detect & Prevent the WhatsApp Missed Call Scam

  1. Don’t Return Unknown International Calls
    If you don’t recognize the country code, ignore it. Most genuine international contacts will send a proper message or email.

  2. Enable Two-Step Verification
    In WhatsApp:
    Settings → Account → Two-step verification → Enable
    This ensures scammers can’t log in even if they get your OTP.

  3. Never Share Your OTP or Verification Code
    No legitimate service or person needs it — not even WhatsApp support.

  4. Educate Your Contacts
    Inform friends and family to verify on a separate platform before sending money.

  5. Check the Number Before Answering
    Search the number’s country code online. If it’s linked to scam reports, block it immediately.


🧠 Why Do People Fall for It?

  • Curiosity — “Who could be calling me from abroad?”

  • Urgency — Scammers create fake emergencies to make you act quickly.

  • Trust in Known Contacts — Once they hijack your account, people believe it’s really you.


🔐 Safety Checklist

✅ Keep your WhatsApp updated.
✅ Use two-step verification with a strong PIN.
✅ Block and report suspicious numbers.
✅ Avoid clicking unknown links sent over chat.
✅ Educate elderly relatives who may be less tech-savvy.
✅ If hacked, immediately re-register your account and inform your contacts.


💭 Final Thoughts

The WhatsApp Missed Call Scam is a perfect example of how scammers use psychology + technology to exploit human curiosity and trust.
A single returned call can lead to financial loss, identity theft, and emotional stress.


If you don’t know the number, don’t pick up the call — especially on WhatsApp.

Stay alert, verify before you trust, and share this article so your friends and family don’t become the next victims.


✍️ Author’s Note

Cybercriminals evolve quickly, but collective awareness grows faster when knowledge is shared. Share this information with everyone.

 

Stay cautious and when in doubt, don’t call back.


— Shubhra (Author & Cybersecurity Enthusiast)

🔐 Stay safe . Stay happy


🗣️ Discussion Prompt 

💬 Take Your Initiative

Share your experience in the comments — it could save someone’s account.



© 2025 Shubhra Safi. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized use, reproduction, or redistribution of any part of this content is prohibited.

Comments

  1. Anonymous13 August 2025 at 22:54

    "Impressive research and clear explanations—this blog adds real value to its readers." Thank you.


    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous14 August 2025 at 08:50

    Such valuable information, well explained. Very nice

    ReplyDelete

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