Archive · 25 Dec 2025
WhatsApp Ghost Pairing Scam: CERT-In Warns Users
WhatsApp Ghost Pairing is a sneaky scam where bad people trick you into letting them see your WhatsApp messages and photos.
They send you a fake link that looks real, and when you click on it, they can connect to your account.
You might not even notice because your WhatsApp still works normally.
They can then read your private chats and download your photos, which they might use to trick you or your friends.
To stay safe, don't click on links you don't recognize, even if they seem to come from someone you know.
Also, check the Linked Devices section in your WhatsApp settings to make sure no strangers have access to your account.
Turning on two-step verification can also help keep your account safe.
Ghost Pairing is a scam where scammers connect to your WhatsApp account without your knowledge.
Scammers send fake links that appear to come from trusted contacts.
Once you click the link, a fake page asks for verification codes, linking the scammer's device to your account.
Scammers can read your messages, see your photos, and impersonate you.
To protect yourself, avoid clicking on unknown links, check linked devices, and enable two-step verification.
- Who
- WhatsApp users
- What
- Ghost Pairing scam
- When
- Ongoing
- Where
- Globally
- Why
- To steal personal information and impersonate users
CERT-In and WhatsApp
Madhya Pradesh Cyber Cell
Existence of the Ghost Pairing Scam
CERT-In and WhatsApp
CERT-In has issued a critical warning about the Ghost Pairing scam, which exploits WhatsApp's device-linking feature to hijack accounts.
Madhya Pradesh Cyber Cell
The Madhya Pradesh Cyber Cell denies that WhatsApp can be hacked and claims no breach was found in their experiments.
- What is Ghost Pairing?
- A scam where scammers connect your WhatsApp account to their device without your knowledge.
- How does it work?
- Scammers send a link that opens a fake page, tricking users into entering verification codes.
- What can scammers do?
- They can read your messages, see your photos, and impersonate you.
- How to protect yourself?
- Avoid clicking on unknown links, check linked devices, and enable two-step verification.
- What should you do if affected?
- Remove any unrecognized devices from the Linked Devices section in WhatsApp settings.
