Targeted WhatsApp spam/extortion attempt & SMS OTP flooding – similar experiences?
Hi everyone,
I'm looking to see if anyone has experienced a similar pattern of spam, false accusations, and phishing over WhatsApp recently.
What happened:
\* Initial Contact: I received WhatsApp messages( sometimes 100 in a row) from random international numbers with country codes like , +20 (Egypt), +967 (Yemen), and +966 (Saudi Arabia). Some started with simple bait like "Do you speak English?" or "Hey bro, need help?" in Hebrew, while others sent random promotional spam, referral links, or MLM scripts in Arabic.
\* False Accusation: they falsely claimed that I had insulted the Prophet Muhammad, clearly trying to manipulate my reactions, provoke anger, or trigger an emotional response.
\* SMS Bombing / OTPs: Over the past couple of days, I've also received automated SMS and email verification codes (OTPs) from platforms like Instagram and Facebook, even though I don't use or own active accounts there. It looks like they are feeding my phone number into various login pages to trigger notifications and test if I react.
My Response:
\* 2FA to all of my accounts.
\* I have not responded to any of their messages.
\* I blocked and reported every single number immediately.
\* I never clicked any links or shared any OTP codes.
Is this a known bot-driven spam/phishing campaign? How long do these automated attempt cycles usually last before they give up when completely ignored?
Thanks in advance for any insights!