Complete Story
 

12/16/2025

The WhatsApp takeover scam that doesn’t need your password

Security Boulevard

A new WhatsApp scam is spreading that doesn’t look like hacking at all. There’s no password theft. No SIM swap. No obvious warning signs.

Instead, people are being tricked into giving attackers access themselves, simply by following what looks like a normal verification step.

Security researchers call this a GhostPairing attack. Here’s how it works, why it’s dangerous, and what you can do to stay safe.

It starts with a message from someone you trust

The scam usually begins with a short, casual message from someone you know on WhatsApp. It often looks like this:

“Hey, I just found your photo!”

More Info

Printer-Friendly Version