Belgium: 3 million WhatsApp numbers leaked for sale

Cybercriminals are offering a database for sale on a hacking forum containing the mobile numbers of over 3 million Belgian WhatsApp users. This data is part of a larger collection of 487 million WhatsApp numbers spanning 84 countries.

Safeonweb warns that this leak could trigger a surge in smishing (fraudulent SMS messages with malicious links) and vishing (fraudulent phone calls). In these scams, attackers may impersonate banks, police, or government agencies to steal personal information, banking codes, or money. Authorities advise citizens to never click on suspicious links, avoid sharing sensitive data over the phone, and to verify any urgent requests by contacting organizations through official channels.