08/04/2022
IF YOU USE GB WHATSAPP READ THIS!
So my WhatsApp was hacked on 7th April, 2022, at around 17hrs. Strange numbers were calling me yelling that I was sending them scam messages, I tried to open my WhatsApp account but to my surprise it was blocked, permanently blocked. I don't know how it happened but I was really shocked, and the strange calls wouldn't stop coming. I called ZICTA on their toll free line, 7070 but they were already off hours and so I just sent an email instead and had to wait for the following day to call them.
The next day I called them as early as 8hrs as I was on my way to the police to report the same. Immediately I told the ZICTA officer what my complaint was, he asked me if I was using GB WhatsApp and I told him "yes" he said my account was not hacked but instead the App developer (onwer) was the one taking control of it. I asked him how could I be protected because there are scam messages been sent to strangers using my account and number, he asked me: are you aware that GB WhatsApp is not an official app? "Yes" are you aware that using GB WhatsApp is not legal? I had nothing to answer, he went on to say, "the only thing I would advise you is to block or abandon that Sim, because just using GB WhatsApp in your phone is already a crime, this App is illegal and so it's like being in possession of a stolen thing, and be informed that whatever happens with your number is completely your responsibility" and then he immediately hung up, he didn't even say thanks for calling ZICTA...
I then entered into the police office and reported, the police all could say is "this is a ZICTA matter, we can only come in if an arrest is involved"
I thought to myself, even if I abandon the sim, it will take 90 days for it to stop working and the ZICTA guy just told me anything to do with the number is my responsibility, I'm only hoping and praying nothing criminal emerges from this incident otherwise it will strike straight at me.
I'm therefore advising all GB WhatsApp users to please take caution of this, either you delete the App or you use it consciously because merely the downloading of it is already a crime, as ZICTA put it to me...
Habowa N. Peter
