Account takeover through a "vote for me" link or a code request
A friend's account asks you to vote in a contest or forward a code, and the code hands your account to the scammer.
Community reports: 0
How it works
- A message from a friend's WhatsApp or Instagram asks you to vote for them in a contest, or says they sent a code to your number by mistake.
- The friend's account has already been taken over, and the code that arrives on your phone is really the login code for your own account.
- Once you share it, the scammer takes over your account, locks you out and messages your contacts for money or more codes.
What it looks like
Example messages. Numbers and links are masked.
Hi, please vote for my niece in a dance contest, it takes 1 minute. You'll get a 6-digit code by SMS, just send it to me.
Sorry, I sent a code to your number by mistake. Can you forward it to me? It's urgent.
Red flags
- A friend asking for a code sent to you
- Voting that needs an SMS code
- Unusual urgency from a friend
- A money request soon after
The one question to ask
Why would a vote or a friend's mistake need the code that was sent to your phone?
Already paid or shared details?
Log in again on your own phone with your number, or use "Forgot password", and then turn on two-step verification. Tell your contacts at once not to send money or codes to your account. If anyone has lost money, call 1930 and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
1930 · cybercrime.gov.in
Also seen as
- Friend's account asking to borrow money urgently
- Request to share a code to "join" a group
- Link to see "who viewed your profile"