BAKU, Azerbaijan - Scammers are taking over WhatsApp accounts and contacting the owner’s relatives and friends to request money, in some cases using artificial intelligence to imitate the voice of someone the recipient knows.
The scheme was described in a Vesti Baku report based on a television segment about messenger security.
One method begins when a victim is tricked into sharing a one-time verification code sent to their phone. The code can allow criminals to sign in to the account.
Once inside, scammers send messages using the victim’s familiar phone number and profile photograph, making a request for money appear to come from a relative or friend.
One woman interviewed for the report said messages seeking financial help were sent from an acquaintance’s compromised account. The real account owner had to contact people from another number and warn them not to transfer money.
In another case, interviewees said criminals contacted parents while pretending to be their child and used an imitation of the child’s voice. The scammers also tried to obtain family information and codes linked to bank cards.
A Familiar Voice Is Not Proof
AI tools can imitate a person’s speech, so a familiar voice does not by itself establish that a message is genuine. Unexpected requests for money or banking information should be checked through a separate, trusted channel.
Azerbaijan’s State Security Service has separately warned about organized cybercriminal networks using fake WhatsApp accounts and urgent messages to direct victims toward fraudulent accounts and money transfers.
Security specialists recommend enabling WhatsApp’s two-step verification, setting a unique PIN and never sharing one-time verification codes. WhatsApp also advises users to review its security guidance.
If a contact unexpectedly asks for an urgent transfer or bank details, users should call that person on a known number before taking action. The original television report includes victim accounts and security recommendations.