WhatsApp and SMS Scams: 6 Common Patterns and How to Protect Yourself
A text arrives in the morning: "Your parcel is held at customs, pay the delivery fee at this link." In the afternoon, a WhatsApp message from a friend's number: "I sent you a code by mistake, can you send it back?" In the evening, a job offer from abroad with a generous salary for "simple tasks". Three messages, one goal: your money or your account. These scams are less clumsy than they used to be, but the patterns barely change.
In short: most WhatsApp and SMS scams rely on urgency plus a link or a code. Don't tap payment or tracking links, never share the 6-digit verification code with anyone, and turn on two-step verification and Silence Unknown Callers. If you already shared a code, re-register your number right away to kick the scammer out.
The most common WhatsApp and SMS scam patterns
1. The held parcel and the delivery fee
The message impersonates a courier, postal service or customs authority and asks for a small amount to redeliver a package or "update your address". The small fee is the bait; what they really want is your card details. Official bodies in the UAE have warned about texts posing as courier companies, and Abu Dhabi Customs issued an alert about fake messages demanding customs fees on "held" shipments. Group-IB research published in 2026 points to growth in this type of scam across the Middle East and Africa, driven by platforms that sell ready-made phishing kits. The rule: never track a shipment from a link you were sent. Use the courier's official website or app.
2. "Your bank account has been suspended"
A text or call in the bank's name: "Your card is blocked, update your details within 24 hours." The link leads to a page that looks like your bank's site, then asks for an OTP code "to confirm". Your bank won't ask for that code by text or call. If in doubt, call the number on your card.
3. Easy job offers
"Earn daily income by liking videos" or "remote job, no experience needed". You are actually paid small amounts at first to build trust, then asked for "deposits" to open bigger tasks. A job that asks you to pay first is not a job.
4. "Is this you in the video?"
A short message from a friend's account with a link. Curiosity makes you tap, you land on a fake login page that steals your credentials, and your account then spreads the same message. Sophos and others warn that the message usually comes from a friend who fell for it first.
5. Fake prizes and giveaways
"Congratulations, you won a phone" or "an anniversary gift from the company, forward this to ten friends". The goal is your data, or a malicious page or app. You can't win a contest you never entered.
6. Stealing the verification code to hijack WhatsApp
This is the most dangerous one. The scammer tries to register your number on their phone, so you receive a 6-digit code. Then they message you from a friend's hijacked account: "My code came to you by mistake." Send it, and your account is theirs. WhatsApp's Help Center warns about any message asking for your registration code or password. A newer takeover method tricks victims into adding the attacker's device as a linked device; TechRadar reported on it under the name GhostPairing.
How to spot a scam message in seconds
- Urgency: "within an hour", "last chance", "your account will be closed".
- Odd links: a domain that doesn't match the official site, or a shortened link.
- Requests for codes or card details: no trustworthy organisation asks for an OTP or CVV by message.
- International or unsaved numbers claiming to be a local bank or company.
- A friend suddenly asking for money: call them on a normal phone call before sending anything.
For more on how these attacks work, see our explainer on what phishing is and how to protect yourself.
WhatsApp protections to turn on now
| Feature | What it does | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Two-step verification | A 6-digit PIN required when your number is registered on a new phone | Settings โ Account โ Two-step verification |
| Silence Unknown Callers | Calls from unsaved numbers don't ring but still show in your call list | Settings โ Privacy โ Calls |
| Privacy Checkup | A guided tour of who can contact you and who sees your info | Settings โ Privacy โ Start checkup |
| Linked devices | Shows every device connected to your account | Settings โ Linked devices |
Add an email address to two-step verification so you can reset the PIN if you forget it. WhatsApp says it is upgrading the PIN to a password, so your screen may look slightly different. In 2025 the app also added a "safety overview" that appears when someone outside your contacts adds you to a group, showing group details and safety tips and letting you leave before you open the chat, according to multiple tech reports. For a broader list of safe habits, read things to avoid on WhatsApp.
Clicked the link or shared the code? Do this now
- If you shared a WhatsApp code: open WhatsApp and re-register your number with the SMS code. WhatsApp's Help Center says re-registering automatically logs out every other device on the account.
- If you're asked for a PIN you never set: the scammer turned on two-step verification. WhatsApp's pages say you may have to wait 7 days before you can register without the PIN, so sign in with the SMS code first to push them out.
- Warn your contacts through another channel that money requests in your name aren't from you.
- If you entered card details: call your bank on its official number to block the card and review transactions.
- If you entered a password: change it immediately and enable two-step verification on that account.
- If you installed an app from the link: delete it and check your phone; read how to tell if your phone is hacked.
- Report the number inside WhatsApp, block it, and report it to the relevant authority in your country.
FAQ
Can WhatsApp be hacked just by opening a scam message?
With typical scam messages, the danger starts when you tap the link and enter your details or share the code, not when you read the message. Still, keep the app updated to close any security holes.
I got a WhatsApp verification code I didn't request. What should I do?
Ignore it and don't share it. It means someone is trying to register your number, which is exactly what two-step verification blocks.
How do I know if a courier message is real?
Don't rely on the message. Open the courier's official site or app and type in the tracking number yourself.
A friend is asking me for money on WhatsApp. Should I send it?
Call them on a regular phone call first. Your friend's account may have been stolen.
The takeaway: codes are never shared, links are never tapped, and urgency is a red flag. Turn on two-step verification today; it takes five minutes and can save your account.
Sources: WhatsApp Help Center, WhatsApp Blog, Khaleej Times, Gulf News, Group-IB, Sophos, TechRadar, Kaspersky.
Because awareness of scam tactics is the first line of defense, our security alerts benefit from following Arabic websites and specialized blogs, to what Egypt stores, Kuwait stores, vitamin stores and international sites offer, with Mashhor for social media services as a key to growth.
That's it, friends. We hope you found this useful โ
Best wishes from the #Ezznology team.
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