WhatsApp scams

How to report a WhatsApp scam

Tell WhatsApp from inside the app; WhatsApp says this is the only way to report someone.

• In WhatsApp: Open the chat, then choose Block and Report (keep 'Report to WhatsApp' ticked).

Then get the fake site taken down: report the phishing link.

What WhatsApp says

• WhatsApp says it is free. Someone asking for payment to use WhatsApp, or offering to unban your account for payment, is likely after your money or personal information.
• WhatsApp says it will never ask you for sensitive personal information, your full name, PIN or payment details.
• WhatsApp says WhatsApp Support only chats from an account with the verified badge and the 'Official Support Account' label, and only emails from addresses ending in @support.whatsapp.com.
• WhatsApp says its official chat has the description 'Official WhatsApp Account' and a verified badge. A chat claiming to be WhatsApp without the badge is a scam.
• WhatsApp says a report sends it up to five of the last messages from that user or group. The user is not told, and WhatsApp acknowledges the report but will not contact you again.

WhatsApp's own warning page: About suspicious messages and scams | WhatsApp Help Center

What fake WhatsApp messages look like

• Someone pretending to be a friend, a family member, a celebrity or a well-known company
• Fake job offers from people posing as recruiters
• Investment scams promising low risk and high returns
• Requests to pay to use WhatsApp or to "unban" an account

Real WhatsApp websites end in

• whatsapp.com

Other brands scammers copy

• Microsoft scams
• Google scams
• Amazon scams
• PayPal scams
• Apple scams
• Netflix scams
• Facebook and Instagram scams
• DHL scams
• USPS scams
• Royal Mail scams
• Roblox scams
• Shopee scams
• Coinbase scams
• Chase scams
• HMRC scams
• Canada Post scams
• Australia Post scams