SINGAPORE – Using the default personal identification number (PIN) 8888, Arivalagan Muthusamy gained access to multiple StarHub voicemail mailboxes that were used to take over WhatsApp accounts.
Some of these accounts were then used in cheating scams that saw three victims transfer $83,750 to a syndicate.
Arivalagan, 37, was sentenced to 10 months’ jail on Monday (Aug 8) after he pleaded guilty to three charges under the Computer Misuse Act.
Arivalagan’s alleged accomplice – Hoang Trung Khang – has been charged in court, and proceedings against the 28-year-old Vietnamese national is ongoing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor R. Arvindren said in court documents that Arivalagan and Hoang started working for a syndicate involved in cheating scams last year and targeted StarHub mobile users registered with a voicemail feature.
The voicemail mailbox could be accessed remotely by keying in the mobile number and PIN.
Arivalagan and Hoang called mobile numbers to test if the call gets diverted to voicemail when it goes unanswered.
Arivalagan then called StarHub’s service hotline and keyed in the targeted victim’s mobile number and the default PIN, which is available publicly.
After getting a message containing a one-time password, it was used to illegally take over WhatsApp accounts of the victim by registering a new account on another mobile device.
It was not clear in court documents how the one-time password messages were generated.
Said DPP Arvindren: “The accused knew that…
