In a recent public statement, former National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds has warned the public about a suspected scam attempt carried out through WhatsApp. According to Hinds, he received a call from a man claiming to be ‘Michael from the PNM,’ who invited him to a Zoom meeting and insisted on sending an entry code. The caller’s insistence that Hinds read the code aloud immediately raised suspicion, leading Hinds to refuse, end the call, and block the number.
Hinds believes that this was an attempt by the caller to gain access to personal information or accounts through a phishing scheme commonly associated with WhatsApp. His suspicion is supported by warnings from cybersecurity agencies across the Caribbean about similar scams, where fraudsters impersonate trusted individuals or organizations to trick victims into sharing authentication codes.
Once these codes are obtained, they enable scammers to hijack victims’ accounts and target other potential victims. While serving as National Security Minister, Hinds had spoken publicly about these types of threats, including the risk of WhatsApp account takeovers.
In light of this incident, Hinds strongly urged citizens to stay alert to the potential dangers lurking in the digital environment. He emphasized the need for vigilance and caution, reminding the public that the online world holds an increasing number of sophisticated scams.
Follow us on Instagram: @news.tringlobe
