HomePostsDealsGetting Spam calls on WhatsApp? Here’s how you can block these calls and protect yourself
Deals Mobiles Tech

Getting Spam calls on WhatsApp? Here’s how you can block these calls and protect yourself

Prepend to the content

Highlights
  • There’s a new WhatsApp scam on the rise
  • Many people are getting missed calls on Whatsapp from international numbers
  • We share what has WhatsApp shared about this and the steps to block these calls. Blocking is an effective way to protect your account

Many Indian WhatsApp users have reported receiving missed calls from unknown international numbers. These calls can be either in audio or video format and often originate from countries like Malaysia, Kenya, Vietnam, and Ethiopia, as indicated by their ISD codes. Unfortunately, the identities and intentions of these callers remain unclear. To bring attention to the issue, some users have taken to Twitter, sharing screenshots of their call logs to voice their concerns and frustration.

It’s important to note that such calls are often part of a “missed call scam” where fraudsters make missed calls to trick people into calling back. Doing so could lead to hefty phone bills, and in some cases, may also result in identity theft or other forms of financial fraud. It’s best to avoid calling back unfamiliar international numbers and instead report them as spam or block them altogether.

How to block calls on WhatsApp on Android

In order to block a contact, you must follow these steps:

 Open WhatsApp on your device.

  1. Locate the chat with the contact you want to block.

2. Tap on the contact’s name at the top of the chat window.

3. Scroll down to find and select the “Block” option.

4. Confirm your decision by tapping “Block” again when prompted.

After completing these steps, the contact will be blocked, and they will no longer be able to call you or send you messages on WhatsApp. Additionally, the blocked contact will not be able to see your online status, last seen, status updates, or any changes made to your profile photo. 

Countries that you should be careful about

Numerous WhatsApp users have taken to Twitter to voice their concerns regarding spam calls they have been receiving. These calls are often traced back to international numbers with country codes originating from,

  •  Indonesia (+62)
  •  Vietnam (+84)
  • Malaysia (+60
  •  Kenya (+254)
  • Ethiopia (+251) 

These countries have become major sources of spam calls, which has caused many users to feel uneasy and frustrated. The prevalence of these calls highlights the need for greater vigilance and caution when using WhatsApp, particularly when communicating with unknown or unfamiliar contacts.

What does WhatsApp’s has to say

In recent developments, WhatsApp has released a statement in response to user concerns. The statement advises users to block and report any suspicious accounts immediately. This will help WhatsApp take necessary action to ensure user safety and security. ”At WhatsApp, the safety of our users is at the core of everything we do and we have devoted efforts to empower users with resources and tools that equip them to safeguard themselves from scams. WhatsApp is an industry leader in preventing abuse, among end-to-end encrypted messaging services and over the years we have made significant product investments and launched user awareness campaigns that empower users to stay safe. Blocking and Reporting suspicious messages/ calls is an important step to effectively combat scams and when users receive calls from unknown international or domestic phone numbers.” 

What is the Government doing to curb spam calls and this scam 

According to reports, Minister of State for IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, announced on Thursday, May 11, that the Indian Ministry of Information Technology will be taking action against WhatsApp for the issue of spam calls from unknown international numbers. The minister stressed that digital platforms have a responsibility to prioritise the safety of their users, and the government will respond to any alleged misuse or breach of privacy. The safety of digital citizens is of utmost importance, and the government is committed to ensuring that digital platforms are held accountable for safeguarding user privacy and security.

FAQs

1) What happens when you block someone on WhatsApp? 

When you block someone on WhatsApp, they can’t see when you were last online, any changes to your profile picture or status updates. The blocked person’s messages, calls and status updates won’t appear on your phone, and they won’t be able to communicate with you. Essentially, blocking someone on WhatsApp means you’re cutting off all communication with that person. However, they can still make usual calls on your phone. 

2) Is blocking calls the same as blocking someone on WhatsApp?

No. A person can still contact you via WhatsApp if you just block their calls on your phone. To completely block a contact, make sure you block them from calling you on your phone as well as their applications. 

3) Can you check if someone has blocked you on WhatsApp? 

If someone has blocked you on WhatsApp, you won’t be able to see any updates to their profile photo. If you send a message to a person who has blocked you, you’ll only see a single checkmark, which means the message has been sent, but it won’t show a double checkmark, which means the message has been delivered.

4) Do you get a notification if someone blocks you on WhatsApp?

No. You don’t get a notification if someone blocks you on WhatsApp.

5) How to block a WhatsApp group? 

If you want to block a WhatsApp group, you can’t simply do it as you do with individual contacts. Instead, you have a few options:

  1. Leave the group entirely if you don’t want to receive any more messages from it
  2. Mute the group so that you don’t get notifications every time someone sends a message
  3. Archive the group if you want to hide it from your chats list, and unarchive it later if you change your mind

The post Getting Spam calls on WhatsApp? Here’s how you can block these calls and protect yourself appeared first on Pricebaba.com Daily.

You Might Like