🚨 My WhatsApp Was Hacked
If you suspect that someone has taken control of your WhatsApp account, act quickly. A compromised account can be used to impersonate you, contact your friends and family, request money, or spread malicious links.
⚡ ACT NOW
1️⃣ Try to regain control
Open WhatsApp on your phone and register your phone number again using the official WhatsApp app.
Enter the 6-digit registration code sent to your phone by SMS or phone call.
If someone else is using your account, registering your number again can help recover control of the account.
2️⃣ Enable Two-Step Verification 🔐
Once you regain access:
WhatsApp → Settings → Account → Two-step verification → Enable
Create a PIN that is different from your banking PIN or other passwords.
Never share your WhatsApp verification code or two-step verification PIN with anyone.
3️⃣ Check Linked Devices
Go to:
WhatsApp → Settings → Linked Devices
Review the devices connected to your account.
🚨 If you don’t recognise a device, log it out immediately.
4️⃣ Warn Your Contacts 📢
Tell your family, friends and colleagues that your account was compromised.
Ask them to ignore requests for money, OTPs, personal information or suspicious links sent from your account.
This is particularly important because scammers often exploit a compromised WhatsApp account to target the victim’s contacts.
5️⃣ Secure Your Phone & SIM 📱
If you suspect your SIM has been compromised:
- Contact your mobile operator immediately.
- Check whether your number has unexpectedly stopped receiving calls or SMS.
- Secure your phone with a strong screen lock.
- Remove suspicious applications.
- Update your phone’s operating system and WhatsApp.
6️⃣ Preserve Evidence 📸
Before deleting anything, preserve:
- Suspicious messages
- Phone numbers
- Screenshots
- Login/verification notifications
- Unknown linked devices
- Payment requests
- Malicious links
- Conversations with the suspected scammer
This information may assist with an investigation.
🚨 If Money Was Lost
If the scammer used your compromised account to obtain money from you or someone else:
Call 1930 immediately if there is a financial cyber fraud and report it through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Also inform your bank/payment provider where applicable.
⚠️ How WhatsApp Accounts Get Compromised
Common methods include:
🎣 Fake verification messages
“Send me the OTP you just received.”
📱 Malicious apps or links
“Install this app to receive your parcel/refund.”
🔢 Social engineering
Someone tricks you into sharing your WhatsApp registration code.
💻 Unauthorised linked devices
A scammer gains access to your account through a linked device.
Remember:
WhatsApp will never need your verification code from you.
NEVER SHARE YOUR 6-DIGIT VERIFICATION CODE.
🛡️ STOP → RECOVER → SECURE → WARN → REPORT
And remember: If your WhatsApp is compromised, don’t panic. Act quickly, secure the account, warn your contacts and preserve the evidence.