WhatsApp users issued 'nasty' warning as scammers 'taking over accounts'

WhatsApp users have reported being targeted by a particularly "nasty" scam in recent months, as fraudsters use a trick to gain access to people's accounts, which are then used to steal hundreds of pounds from unwitting users. The consumer publication Which? have issued an alert to raise awareness of the increasingly common scam.

For many, this "verification code scam" begins with a genuine message from WhatsApp, but can end with you and your loved ones possibly being the victim of organised fraud crime groups. In their alert, Which? said: "This nasty scam continues to circulate and could result in scammers taking over your account."

In January, a Rochdale businessman spoke to the Manchester Evening News after a scammer took £800 from him by posing as an old friend. He said the "sophisticated" fraud began with a greeting from someone he believed to be his friend saying "Please, I need a little assistance from you..."

READ MORE: Warning for people with smart meters as nearly 4 million households affected by fault

Users will often first experience this scam by receiving a legitimate verification code from WhatsApp, which you typically get after logging in from a new phone or web browser, but has been triggered by a scammer entering your number themselves.

Then, you will be contacted by someone who appears to be one of your close contacts, asking for the verification code and saying that they entered your number by mistake. They will then try to persuade you to give them the code.

Lots of people are fooled by this scam, as the messages appear to be coming from a close friend or relative. But, once that verification code is handed over, those scammers will have full access to your account.

Once they have access,