WhatsApp has become an important mode of communication for most of us. From personal to office chats, it's the most important tool of communication for a large number of people across the globe. It's over a billion user base has also made it a favourite of hackers and cybercriminals. Fraudsters often use this platform to dupe innocent users.

Here are a few simple safety tips that can keep us safe:

1. Never send private information like bank account details, Debit/Credit Card PINs or Internet Banking passwords through WhatsApp
2. Never respond to WhatsApp messages asking for OTP, however small the amount may be
3. Never accept files or begin downloads from messages sent by strangers or from unknown numbers
4. Deactivate WhatsApp if you lose your phone
5. Always delete all WhatsApp and other data and restore factory settings on the phone before selling or discarding old smartphone
6. Never respond to messages that come from unknown numbers on WhatsApp
7. Don’t believe messages that claim they can connect your PC with WhatsApp and send messages from a desktop
8. Keep automatic downloads on WhatsApp disabled, this ensures that you know what is being downloaded
9. Avoid using WhatsApp when you are connected to open/public Wi-Fi networks.