Kituuma Rusoke, spokesperson for the Uganda Police Force.

Ugandan authorities are warning WhatsApp users in the East African country about cyber criminals who deactivate accounts using verification code and demand money for re-registration.

The police said the warning comes as complaints about the attacks have risen to the point that they should communicate with the broader public, encouraging Ugandans to be cautious and noting that the attackers' phone numbers are Kenyan.

During a media briefing, Kituuma Rusoke, Uganda Police Force spokesperson, informed the publice about the numerous attacks.

He said: “These individuals have a tendency of blocking your WhatsApp account and sending you a verification code to re-register, claiming that you need to send money for the registration process.

“We encourage victims to report these scams to police and also make an appeal that people desist from falling prey to these schemes. People should stick to official communication channels provided by service providers.”