Brits have been warned over a new scam targeting WhatsApp users that may give hackers access to your data without you realising - but there's an easy way to avoid it
10:40, 09 Jan 2026Updated 13:01, 09 Jan 2026
A new scam targeting WhatsApp users could see hackers gain access to your most sensitive data. We are constantly being told about new scams and threats to our personal data, and most of us know the importance of staying safe online and not clicking on suspicious links or downloading unknown programs onto our computers.
But scammers and hackers are also getting smarter, and it's not always easy to spot a fake text message or email if you don't already know what to look out for. One new scam called the "ghost pairing scam" is currently affecting users on WhatsApp, and people are being urged to stay vigilant about any messages they receive on the app.
A woman on social media named Caroline made people aware of the scam in a video posted to TikTok, in which she said that falling for the "terrifying" trick could allow hackers to remotely access your data.
Explaining how the scam works, she said: "You will receive a message that looks like it's from WhatsApp itself. It will look completely legitimate. It will say to you that your account is at risk or that you need to secure your account to make sure it's safe. Or, it might look like you're getting a message from somebody you already know in your contact list, and it will say [something like] 'Oops, I've sent you a code by mistake, can you send it back to me?'
"What's actually happening is this: WhatsApp has a feature that lets you link your account to another device like a laptop. If you receive a code and then forward it on as instructed, then effectively you are linking your WhatsApp account to the scammer's device."
If a stranger has access to your WhatsApp account, they can then read your messages, see any photos you have sent in the app, and even send messages on your behalf, potentially fooling other people on your contact list by pretending to be you and continuing the scam.
To make matters more complicated, the pairing scam won't kick you from your own WhatsApp account, and the app will still "work normally" on your device - so you may not even realise your account has been compromised.
Thankfully, though, there are some easy steps you can take to make sure you don't fall for these scams. The first thing you should know is that you should never send a WhatsApp code to anybody.
WhatsApp will never send you a text message asking for a code to be sent back to them, and if you get a message from someone in your contacts asking for a code they claim to have sent you, tell them to have the code re-sent to their own number and do not send them anything you have received.
You can also check your linked devices in your settings. To do this on an Android phone, click on the three dots in the top right of the app and select Linked Devices from the list that appears. On an iPhone, simply click the settings icon and then select Linked Devices.
If you have any other devices linked to your WhatsApp account, they will appear here. If you see a device you don't recognise, tap on it and select "log out" or "remove" to immediately disconnect it.
Commenters on Caroline's video were thankful to her for raising awareness about the scam. Many said they had no idea it existed, and said they would immediately be sharing the information with older family members who might be more likely to fall victim to it.
One person said: "This happened to me before, I blocked the person straight away!"
Another added: "Thank you once again for the heads up. Shared."
A third posted: "Oh my word!! I got this message. Thankfully, I've done nothing with it!! Thanks for sharing this information with us."