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Popular messaging platform WhatsApp has its largest user base in India, which is why hackers often choose Indians as their targets. And for this they adopt different strategies every time. Recently, a new type of WhatsApp scam has emerged. Where Vietnamese hackers are targeting Indian users with the help of a malware called Maorisbot.

According to a report by Cloudsec, a new malware called Maorisbot has emerged and is being used by Vietnamese hackers. The company also said that this is a special type of technical Android malware, through which hackers are trapping Indian citizens in the name of fake traffic e-challans. And they are sending these invoices to users through Meta’s proprietary messaging app WhatsApp.

How is being cheated?

Scammers are sending fake e-challans to common people through WhatsApp messages instructing them to pay their invoices. A URL or APK file is also attached to those messages. And if a user taps on that link or downloads a file, scammers can easily gain access to the user’s phone and harm the user in various ways.

Scammers use proxy IPs and low-registration profiles to hide their identity, according to cybersecurity firms. And so far they have damaged around 4,500 devices with the help of this malware and stolen more than Rs 16 lakhs. Note that the WhatsApp users in Gujarat and Karnataka have been affected the most as a result of this incident.

Any precautions to take?

Experts always ask WhatsApp users to stay away from different types of malware and for this they advise users to download antivirus and anti-malware apps. Also, they said to always be careful before allowing any app to access the device. And users are told that no kind of invoice is sent on WhatsApp, so never believe such messages. Also, clicking on an unknown link and downloading an APF file can prove harmful to the user. So don’t click on the links in such messages and don’t download any kind of files.