A growing number of WhatsApp users are falling victim to sophisticated scams that prey on their sense of trust and urgency. Two scams in particular — the “Vote for My Child” trick and the “Send Me Money Urgently” hoax — are spreading rapidly, primarily through compromised accounts of friends and family members. While the scenarios vary, both tactics share the same underlying mechanism: gaining unauthorized access to a user’s WhatsApp account and using it to propagate the scam further.
These scams are emotionally manipulative and technically cunning, often leading to financial losses and personal distress. Cybersecurity experts warn that even digitally literate individuals are not immune due to the convincing nature of these schemes.
How the Scams Work: From Friendly Requests to Account Takeovers
In the first type of scam, the victim receives a message from a known contact asking for help to vote in a child’s competition. A link is shared, and upon clicking, the user is prompted to enter a six-digit code — a code that the scammer is simultaneously requesting from WhatsApp as part of a login attempt. By entering this verification code, the victim unknowingly grants the attacker access to their account.
Once inside, the attacker locks the original user out and begins sending the same message to all their contacts, continuing the cycle. In many cases, the scam escalates to requests for urgent financial assistance, framed as a medical emergency or travel mishap, asking for modest sums to lower suspicion. Victims, believing the messages are genuine, often transfer the requested amounts without verifying the sender’s identity.
This approach is especially dangerous because it utilizes social engineering — manipulating emotions like trust, fear, and urgency — to bypass logical thinking and cybersecurity awareness.
What to Do If You’re Targeted — or If Your Account Is Compromised
If you receive a suspicious message, do not click any links or enter verification codes. Instead:
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Contact the sender via a separate channel (call, SMS, or another app) to confirm the legitimacy of the request.
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Report the message within WhatsApp by long-pressing it, selecting “More,” and then “Report.”
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Never share your WhatsApp verification code — not even with someone you trust.
If your account has already been hacked, follow these steps:
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Attempt to regain access through WhatsApp by requesting a new verification code.
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Email WhatsApp support at support@whatsapp.com with full details of the breach.
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Notify your bank if any sensitive data or financial transactions occurred.
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Install a reputable security app such as Bitdefender or Kaspersky Mobile Security to prevent future attacks.
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Report the incident to your national cybercrime helpline or CERT.
Protecting the Most Vulnerable: Helping Elderly Relatives Stay Scam-Free
Older adults are often targeted due to lower awareness of digital threats and a higher tendency to trust familiar names. Protecting them involves proactive steps:
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Enable two-step verification on their WhatsApp accounts.
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Educate them about common scams in simple language.
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Set up phone calls as verification for any unusual requests.
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Use a family cybersecurity tool to monitor and protect their devices.
Cybercriminals rely on familiarity, urgency, and kindness to succeed. However, awareness, skepticism, and technical safeguards can dismantle their tactics before any harm is done.
