Critical warning from the Cybersecurity Directorate: WhatsApp accounts are being hijacked

Turkey’s Presidential Cybersecurity Directorate warned that a recent rise in messaging-app fraud has centered on outdated iPhones, where malware is seizing control of WhatsApp accounts and messaging contacts to request emergency cash. The authority said the attacks have increased recently and urged citizens to treat unexpected “urgent money” requests as a potential account-takeover signal. The warning matters because WhatsApp is a primary channel for personal and small-business payments and communications in Turkey, so a hijacked account can quickly spread fraudulent requests across a user’s entire contact list. Watch for the agency’s follow-up guidance on updating iOS and enabling two-step verification, plus any disclosure of the number of affected accounts.