Stories
Make these two WhatsApp settings immediately to avoid unknown calls and fraud
- •Cyber scammers are targeting WhatsApp users with unknown international calls and digital arrest threats to extort money.
- •Answering calls from unknown numbers can create a peer-to-peer connection that leaks your IP address and live location to hackers.
- •You can enable the 'Silence Unknown Callers' feature in WhatsApp privacy settings to stop your phone from ringing for unsaved numbers.
- •Turn on the 'Protect IP Address in Calls' setting under advanced privacy options to route calls through secure servers and block digital tracking.
Key Questions Answered
You can stop unknown numbers from disturbing your daily work by enabling the 'Silence Unknown Callers' feature in your WhatsApp privacy settings. Once turned on, calls from numbers not in your contact list will not cause your phone to ring, though they will still show up in your call tab.
To protect your privacy and prevent hackers from tracing your internet location, you can enable the 'Protect IP Address in Calls' feature. Go to WhatsApp settings, open privacy, select the advanced options, and turn on the toggle so that all your calls are routed securely through Meta's servers instead of peer-to-peer connections.
A digital arrest scam occurs when cyber scammers call victims—often impersonating police, CBI, or customs officers—and falsely claim an illegal parcel has been seized under their name. They keep victims engaged and terrified on the phone for hours, demanding lakhs of rupees to settle the fake case.
