HIGH · WhatsApp · 4/19/2026
WhatsApp OTP takeover via “family emergency” messages
Attackers send a panicked message from a hacked contact, asking you to “forward the 6-digit code I just sent” — the code is your WhatsApp activation OTP.
What it looks like
Warning signs
- Sudden urgent message from a family member abroad
- Request to forward a 6-digit code
- New device registration notification on your WhatsApp settings
What to do
Defenses
- 1Never share WhatsApp 6-digit codes. Period.
- 2Enable two-step verification with a 6-digit PIN.
- 3If hijacked, sign in again — your code logs the attacker out instantly.
Region
Where this is active
Pan-African + diaspora
More
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