My precious memories with my mum were stolen just WEEKS after she died because of my mistake – I’ll regret it forever
A DAUGHTER’S precious memories with her mum were stolen just weeks after she died due to a simple mistake.
Ruth Wilson’s phone was hacked and she was locked out of WhatsApp, meaning old messages, as well as some photos and videos her late mum Jane sent have gone.
The 50-year-old, from Wandsworth, South London, had just woken up when she got what appeared to be a message from a friend asking for a six-digit verification code that had just come through.
Without thinking, she sent it and within seconds a fraudster had gained access to the phone and she was blocked from the messaging app.
She told The Sun: “I feel like such an idiot. I don’t fall for stuff like this usually.
“I know you shouldn’t send these codes, but I’d just woken up and thought it was her because it was from my friend’s phone.
“I was just so angry for being such an idiot.”
Ruth, who works in PR, explained: “I woke up and thought my friend in Australia was texting me and she said ‘oh, I’m having a nightmare’ and asked me to send a code.
“I’d just woken up and the second I sent it I was like ‘oh God, what have I done?’
“I leapt out of bed, realised and it was too late. I was literally locked out within seconds.”
Ruth’s mum Jane passed away aged 74 in February, with the hack happening weeks later on May 5.
She said: “I didn’t realise how much you use WhatsApp. Nobody really texts anymore. I’ve got a whole history.”
Crying, she continued: “Everything with mum is on there and that’s the thing that’s really upset me the most.
“All the banter and also remembering things and going back, memories of personal things and photos. It’s just very sad. It’s all gone.
“I’m hopeful I’ll get back in and get them. At the moment everything is gone.”
Ruth said she’s contacted WhatsApp multiple times but has only ever received automated messages.
“I’ve never felt quite so stressed about something so minor in my entire life,” she explained.
“I was sick, sleepless nights. It’s been really stressful.
“The customer service at WhatsApp is ridiculously bad. I appreciate you don’t pay for it but there needs to be an element of help available.
“I have sent countless messages. I have written a whole song and verse about it all. I get the same automated reply every time.”
Ruth said she warned her contacts about the hack and to not fall for any messages they might receive from her account.
Everybody is on WhatsApp and that’s the problem
Ruth Wilson
However, other family and friends also fell for the con and were temporarily locked out of WhatsApp.
But, unlike Ruth, have since regained access.
“About a week later I got back in and it was okay for two or three weeks, then I got locked out again but it was temporary,” said Ruth.
“It would lock me out for between an hour and 12 hours and I had to keep checking. The last attempt it said you’re completely banned, you can’t use this account. This number is not allowed to use this account.
“I have not been in the account since May 25.”
While she was temporarily back into her account she set up a two-step verification and is confused as to how the scammer could then get back in.
Ruth contacted her bank immediately after the hack happened but was assured the scammer could not access her account.
She has since purchased an e-SIM to allow her to use the messaging platform because she felt “out of the loop” without it, particularly following another bereavement in her family.
“Everybody is on WhatsApp and that’s the problem. They should be doing more to stop these evil people trying to get in,” she said.
“They’ve not robbed anything. But the emotional strain it’s taken is genuinely unbelievable. I’m surprised at how badly it’s affected me.
“I want them (WhatsApp) to acknowledge that it’s not me and to find this hacker.”
How to spot a dodgy app
Detecting a malicious app before you hit the 'Download' button is easy when you know the signs.
Follow this eight-point checklist when you’re downloading an app you’re unsure about:
- Check the reviews – be wary of both complaints and uniformly positive reviews by fake accounts.
- Look out for grammar mistakes – legitimate app developers won’t have typos or errors in their app descriptions.
- Check the number of downloads – avoid apps with only several thousand downloads, as it could be fake.
- Research the developer – do they have a good reputation? Or, are totally fake?
- Check the release date – a recent release date paired with a high number of downloads is usually bad news.
- Review the permission agreement – this agreement gives permission for the app to take bits of your data, and fake apps often ask for additional data that is not necessary.
- Check the update frequency – an app that is updated too frequently is usually indicative of security vulnerabilities.
- Check the icon – look closely, and don’t be deceived by distorted, lower-quality versions the icons from legitimate apps.
All of this information will available in both Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store.
Ruth said friends have told her the fraudster has been making changes on her profile and has left group chats.
A pal even took a screenshot of the person’s number.
Ruth said: “I’ve got their number. They’ve put their name as Ali Barber and they’re from Pakistan. WhatsApp are not interested.
“I’m raising awareness for people who might fall for this. I know I’m not saving the world, but it was so debilitating, I was in tears over this because it’s upset me so much, just the fact it’s not me and they (WhatsApp) won’t listen.”
The Sun has contacted WhatsApp owner Meta for comment.