FIA reports rise in WhatsApp hacks: 1,426 complaints filed since July in Pakistan

FIA reports that of those 1,456 registered hacked WhatsApp accounts, almost 549 accounts were successfully restored
A representational image of WhatsApp being hacked. — Unsplash/Canva
A representational image of WhatsApp being hacked. — Unsplash/Canva

The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing recently reported the alarming surge in WhatsApp account hacks. It reported that almost 1,426 complaints have been filed since July 1. This number reflects only registered cases, suggesting that the actual number of hacked accounts may be higher due to unreported incidents.

As mentioned earlier, these numbers only reflect the reported cases, as many people who become prey to hackers often opt not to report such incidents. 

Read more: WhatsApp’s new QR code update — Simplifying channel access for users

According to the FIA, from those 1,456 registered cases, almost 549 accounts were successfully restored. There are currently 877 active complaints, while the remaining 817 are under verification by the agency. 

FIA further reported, almost 20 complex cases have been sent for formal inquiries. Moreover, almost 40 complaints haven't received any response. 

FIA has already yielded the information regarding the hacked accounts to the Senate and its Cybercrime Wing has encouraged users to adopt enhanced security software to fortify their accounts.