Code shared, account snared: The six-digit WhatsApp scam that has caught even celebs in its web

That's the number of WhatsApp users in India. From discussing life's gravest crises to cracking jokes, sharing memes and catching up with family and friends, it’s where conversations happen, memories are shared, and connections thrive. This isn't just a hypothetical situation or a nightmare – it's the reality for a growing number of people in India as WhatsApp hacking cases continue to rise. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book - deceiving users into sharing the six-digit setup codes WhatsApp sends when switching phones, leading to account hijacks. On December 6, for instance, renowned Indian filmmaker and cinematographer Santhosh Sivan took to Instagram to announce that his WhatsApp had been hacked and warned followers not to respond to any messages from his account.