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When a scammer uses WhatsApp pretending to be a friend or family member

WhatsApp impersonation scams

What's a WhatsApp impersonation scam?

A message will appear on WhatsApp from a phone number that you don’t recognise. The person will claim to be a family member or friend who has lost or damaged their phone. There'll be a sense of urgency to the conversation and they will ask you to send money to help.

They are actually a fraudster trying to steal your money.

What to look out for

  • The message will appear from a phone number you don’t recognise.
  • The sender will claim to be a family member, friend or even a business like a bank.
  • The message may be generic to avoid using your name i.e. 'Hi Mum’.
  • They’ll ask for money and will try to rush you into sending the money quickly.
  • If you try to call them, there’ll usually be an excuse why they can’t speak to you.

Steps to protect yourself

If you think a WhatsApp conversation could be a scam, it’s important to stop and think. Consider the following actions that could protect you and your money:

  • If you think you've received a WhatsApp impersonation message, don’t send any money.
  • Call a trusted number that you have saved for your friend or family member. This way you can make sure they’ve sent you a message.
  • Learn how to block and report the user on WhatsApp to stop them from contacting you.

You can learn more about how to protect yourself with the WhatsApp Help Centre.

Think you’ve been scammed?

If you think you’ve been a victim of a WhatsApp impersonation scam, don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed - you're not alone.

It’s important that you let us know what has happened as quickly as possible.

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