Scammers are using a new, manipulative tactic to hijack social media and messaging accounts — and it starts with a friendly message on WhatsApp from an unknown number.
The scam often begins innocently. Someone reaches out via WhatsApp claiming to be a friend or acquaintance. They’ll say something like:
“Hey! I’ve changed my number. How have you been?”
They’ll keep it casual to disarm you and build trust. After a brief chat, the scammer introduces a story — perhaps they’ve enrolled in a course or training program and need help with a “vote” or verification. Then comes the critical part of the scam:
“You’ll get an SMS with a code — just send it to me so I can complete my registration.”
🚨 STOP RIGHT THERE. This is a scam.
That code or PIN is NOT for any legitimate vote or training system. It’s almost certainly a verification code for a WhatsApp or social media login — either yours or someone else’s. The scammer has likely triggered a login request and is waiting for you to give them the key to take over the account.
Once they have that code, they can hijack your WhatsApp account, impersonate you, and repeat the scam on your contacts — spreading the fraud further.
❗ What to Do if This Happens:
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Do NOT share any PIN or code sent to your phone.
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These codes are private and meant for your use only.
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Block the suspicious number immediately.
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Contact your real friend or acquaintance through a verified channel.
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Ask them if they really changed their number. In most cases, they haven’t.
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Report the number to WhatsApp.
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When you block the contact, select “Report” to flag the account for abuse and potential hijacking.
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🔒 Remember:
No legitimate service will ever ask you to forward a PIN or verification code to someone else.
If someone does — it’s a scam.
Stay alert, and share this warning with your friends and family. The more people know about this tactic, the harder it becomes for scammers to succeed.