Jakarta, ThedailyID — Many WhatsApp users recently reported receiving suspicious messages and calls from unknown numbers with Brazilian country codes, causing concern across social media platforms.
The issue quickly went viral after users shared screenshots showing repeated calls, spam chats, and missed calls from unfamiliar international numbers beginning with the +55 code, which belongs to Brazil.
Cybersecurity observers warned that scammers often use international numbers to trick users into answering calls, clicking suspicious links, or responding to phishing attempts.
Some scams also reportedly involve social engineering tactics designed to steal personal information, verification codes, banking details, or access to messaging accounts.
Experts advised users not to answer unknown international calls unless they recognize the sender or expect communication from abroad.
Users should also avoid clicking suspicious links or downloading files sent through unfamiliar WhatsApp accounts.
To reduce risks, users can activate privacy settings that silence calls from unknown numbers directly through WhatsApp.
The feature helps automatically mute calls from unrecognized contacts while still displaying them in call history.
Users can enable the setting by opening WhatsApp, selecting Settings, tapping Privacy, choosing Calls, and activating the “Silence Unknown Callers” option.
Cybersecurity experts additionally recommend enabling two-factor authentication to strengthen account security and prevent unauthorized access.
They also encouraged users to report and block suspicious numbers immediately to help reduce spam activity on the platform.
Although many cases involve spam or scam attempts, experts reminded users not to panic because receiving calls from unknown international numbers does not automatically mean devices have been hacked.
