In the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in Morocco on 11th September 2023, a viral message on WhatsApp cautioned users against opening images of the Moroccan quake, claiming that these photos contained a malicious virus dubbed the “Seismic Wave Card” that would compromise the security of their phones.

The claim is FALSE

On 11th September 2023 a devastating earthquake hit Morocco with over 2,000 lives tragically lost and countless more impacted.

The viral message reads, “Be cautious! On WhatsApp, there’s a circulating virus known as the ‘Seismic Wave Card,’ camouflaged as images of the Moroccan quake. Your phone gets hacked upon opening these photos.”

Findings have shown that the message is a hoax designed to prey on individuals’ concerns , fears and curiosity.

Further findings revealed that the Seismic Wave Card and the Moroccan earthquake images have no connection with any malicious software.

Seismic Waves Card appears to be falsely labelled as a browser hijacker. There is no evidence that a malware or browser hijacker called Seismic Waves Card exists.

CONCLUSION

The claim that some WhatsApp images from the Moroccan Earthquake can hack your Phone is FALSE.