Police issue warning over WhatsApp voting scam

The Malta Police Force warned the public about a WhatsApp scam in which users receive messages from their own contacts asking them to vote for a person in an online competition through a link.

Users receive messages asking them to vote for a person in an online competition through a link (Photo: Police)

The police explained that once the link is accessed, scammers gain unauthorised control of the victim’s WhatsApp account. They then use the compromised account to send further scam messages to the victim’s contacts by requesting money or financial assistance.

Because these messages appear to come from a trusted contact, recipients are more likely to believe they are genuine. However, police strongly urged the public not to click on such links.

The public is advised to remain cautious even when messages are received from familiar contacts and to verify any financial requests by calling the sender directly.

If users suspect their WhatsApp account has been compromised, police recommend immediately logging out of all linked devices, reviewing account security settings, enabling two-step verification, and informing contacts that the account has been hacked.

Victims are also urged to report the incident at the nearest police station or through the official police website.