We’re issuing a warning about a rising WhatsApp scam affecting people in the West Midlands.
Criminals are trying to gain unauthorised access to victims’ WhatsApp accounts, leading to impersonation and further fraudulent activity.
How the scam works
WhatsApp takeover scams involve fraudsters tricking people into sharing their six-digit verification code. Once they have this code, they can log into the account, locking out the real owner, and use the compromised account to deceive others for personal gain.
The scammer will start by providing your phone number to WhatsApp, auto generating a verification code that will be sent directly to your phone. The criminal will then call or message you, often appearing as a known contact.
They will then often tell you that you are invited to an online meeting or make up another reason to convince you to share the code, enabling the criminal immediate and full access to the account.
This will cause a loss of all access to the account including any messages, media, files and contact lists. It allows the fraudster to pose as the victim, targeting the victim’s friends and family often making requests for money or personal information.
