By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter D.S
The Criminal Investigations Department of the Sierra Leone Police is warning citizens to be on high alert following a spike in WhatsApp account hijackings being used to facilitate mobile money fraud across the country.
In an advisory shared widely on social media, CID officials said scammers are gaining access to private WhatsApp accounts and then posing as the owners to solicit money from contacts and group members.
According to the alert, the scheme begins when a target receives a message containing a link or a request for a verification code. Once the code is shared, criminals take full control of the account and lock the rightful user out.
“Once you give them that code, they own your number and your WhatsApp. You lose access immediately,” the CID stated.
Investigators noted that the fraudsters exploit Orange Money and Afrimoney platforms to request urgent transfers, often claiming it is for an emergency. Because the messages come from a trusted contact, many victims comply before realizing they have been duped.
Beyond financial loss, police cautioned that compromised accounts can also be used to damage reputations, as hackers may send false or damaging messages to a victim’s network.
To protect themselves, the CID advised the public to take three key precautions: do not share verification or encryption codes under any circumstance; do not click on unfamiliar links or join suspicious online meetings; and always confirm money requests by calling the sender directly.
The department further urged Sierra Leoneans to spread awareness among family, friends and colleagues as digital fraudsters grow more sophisticated in targeting messaging apps.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over cybercrime, with authorities pushing for increased digital literacy to curb the rise of social media-related scams.
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