Hacked Friend Scams on WhatsApp
Scammers take over or spoof a friend's WhatsApp account to request urgent money or verification codes, exploiting the trust between contacts.
Part of: Hacked Friend Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Hacked friend scams weaponise the trust at the heart of WhatsApp. A message from a familiar contact asking for urgent help — money, a code, a favour — carries an authority no stranger could match, and the personal nature of the app makes the plea feel real.
Scammers gain this leverage by hijacking a real account, often through a stolen verification code, or by creating a lookalike profile with a friend's name and photo. Either way, the goal is to convert your trust in that person into a payment or a code before you can verify.
How this scam works on WhatsApp
A message from a contact's account explains an emergency — a locked bank account, a stranded relative, an urgent bill — and asks you to send money quickly or to receive and forward a verification code 'they sent to your number by mistake'.
If you forward the code, you may hand the scammer your own account; if you send money, it goes to them. The compromised account is then used to target your other contacts with the same script.
The tone is hurried and emotional, discouraging the simple step of calling the friend to confirm, which would instantly expose the scam.
Common red flags
- A contact suddenly asks for urgent money or a verification code
- You are told a code was 'sent to you by mistake' and asked to forward it
- The request is urgent, emotional, and discourages a phone call
- The writing style or details feel slightly off for that person
- Payment is requested via transfer, vouchers, or cryptocurrency
- The account recently changed its photo or status unexpectedly
How to protect yourself
- Call the friend on a known number to confirm before sending anything
- Never forward a verification code to anyone, even a friend
- Be wary of urgent money requests, however genuine the account looks
- Enable two-step verification on your own WhatsApp account
- Do not send money via irreversible methods on the strength of a message
- Block and report the account if you confirm it is compromised
How to report it
- Report the contact using WhatsApp's in-app reporting feature
- Warn the real friend so they can recover and secure their account
- File a report with your national fraud or cybercrime reporting centre
Frequently asked questions
A friend on WhatsApp asked me to forward a code — should I?
No. A request to forward a verification code is a hallmark of an account-takeover scam, even from a friend whose account may be hacked. Never forward codes, and call the friend on a known number to check.