OneCard has issued a warning about a sophisticated fraud known as WhatsApp Screen Mirroring, which has been targeting its customers. The scam exploits the screen-sharing function in WhatsApp to gain access to sensitive personal and financial data, potentially leading to significant losses.
The primary tactic of the fraudsters is to trick victims into activating screen sharing on their WhatsApp accounts. This grants the scammers complete access to everything displayed on the user’s screen, including vital data like OTPs, bank account information, passwords, and private messages.
The scam usually begins when the fraudster impersonates a bank employee or a representative from a financial institution. They fabricate an issue with the victim’s account and then request screen sharing to apparently resolve the issue. To further the fraud, they request a WhatsApp video call to view the screen.
Once screen sharing is enabled, the scammer can monitor the user’s screen in real time. This allows them to monitor the input of sensitive information. They often deceive victims into entering OTPs or PINs, which are then immediately used for fraudulent transactions.
In addition to screen mirroring, scammers may also use keylogger apps to steal information. These apps record all keystrokes, capturing banking and social media passwords. To combat this, many banks provide on-screen keyboards to protect against keylogger threats.
With access to your data, fraudsters can engage in a range of fraudulent activities, including draining your bank account, executing unauthorized transactions, and using your identity for other scams.