WhatsApp scams have become increasingly common, but a newly emerging threat has alarmed cybersecurity experts and users alike. This latest fraud technique, known as the “Ghost Pairing Scam,” allows hackers to gain complete control of a user’s WhatsApp account without stealing the OTP, password, or even the SIM card.
According to a recent report by cybersecurity firm Gen Digital, this scam does not exploit any technical vulnerability in WhatsApp. Instead, it cleverly manipulates users into unknowingly granting access to their accounts by abusing WhatsApp’s own legitimate features. Because of its deceptive nature, even cautious users can fall victim if they are not aware of how the scam works.
What Is the Ghost Pairing Scam?
The Ghost Pairing Scam is a form of social engineering attack, where criminals trick users into performing actions that compromise their own security. Rather than hacking systems directly, scammers exploit human trust and confusion.
In this scam, hackers use WhatsApp’s official “Linked Devices” feature—normally meant for safely using WhatsApp Web on multiple devices. By deceiving users into approving a device pairing request, scammers quietly link their own browser or device to the victim’s WhatsApp account. Once linked, the hacker can read messages, send messages, access contacts, and impersonate the victim—without triggering obvious alerts.
What makes this scam especially dangerous is that no OTP is stolen, no password is cracked, and no malware is installed on the phone. Everything appears legitimate, which is why many victims realize something is wrong only after their contacts report suspicious messages.
How the WhatsApp Scam Begins
The scam usually starts with a message from a trusted or familiar contact. This could be a friend, relative, or colleague whose account may already have been compromised. The message often sounds casual and urgent, such as:
- “Hey, I just saw your photo online.”
- “Is this you in this picture?”
- “Someone posted your photo here.”
Along with the message, there is a link. WhatsApp may even show a preview image resembling a Facebook post or photo thumbnail, which lowers suspicion and increases the likelihood that the user will click it without thinking too much.
What Happens After Clicking the Link?
Once the user clicks the link, they are redirected to a fake website designed to look like a Facebook photo viewer or a social media page. The site appears professional and convincing, making users believe they are about to view an image involving them.
Before showing the photo, the website asks the user to “verify” themselves. This is where the scam becomes dangerous. Instead of actually verifying anything related to Facebook, the page silently initiates WhatsApp’s official device-linking process.
The user is asked to enter their phone number, after which a numeric pairing code is generated. The website then instructs the user to enter this code into WhatsApp, presenting it as a normal security or verification step.
How Hackers Gain Control Without OTP
At this stage, the user believes they are completing a harmless verification. In reality, they are approving the hacker’s browser as a linked WhatsApp device.
When the victim enters the pairing code into WhatsApp, they unknowingly authorize the hacker’s system to access their account via WhatsApp Web. This gives the attacker full access to chats, contacts, and messaging functions, often without immediately logging the victim out of their own phone.
Because this uses WhatsApp’s legitimate linking feature, no OTP theft or SIM swapping is required, making the scam harder to detect and easier to execute.
What Can Hackers Do After Accessing Your Account?
Once a hacker has linked their device to your WhatsApp account, the consequences can be severe:
- Read private messages and conversations
- Send messages posing as you
- Scam your friends and family for money
- Share malicious links from your account
- Access sensitive personal or financial information
- Damage your reputation by spreading false messages
In many cases, hackers use compromised accounts to spread the same scam further, creating a chain reaction of victims.
Why This Scam Is So Effective
The Ghost Pairing Scam works because it exploits trust, familiarity, and urgency. Users trust messages from known contacts. The fake websites look authentic. The process does not involve obvious red flags like asking for an OTP directly.
Additionally, many users are unaware of how WhatsApp’s Linked Devices feature works. They may not realize that entering a pairing code can give someone else full access to their account.
How to Check If Your WhatsApp Has Been Compromised
WhatsApp users should regularly check their linked devices by following these steps:
- Open WhatsApp
- Go to Settings
- Tap Linked Devices
- Review all active devices
If you see any device, browser, or location that you do not recognize, it is a strong sign that your account may have been compromised.
What to Do If You See an Unknown Linked Device
If you find a suspicious or unfamiliar device:
- Immediately log out of that device
- Change your WhatsApp security settings
- Inform your contacts that your account may have been compromised
- Monitor your account for unusual activity
Removing the unknown device instantly cuts off the hacker’s access.
How to Protect Yourself From This Scam
To stay safe from the Ghost Pairing Scam and similar WhatsApp frauds, follow these essential precautions:
- Never click unknown or suspicious links, even if they come from trusted contacts
- Do not enter pairing codes or scan QR codes on external websites
- Always verify unexpected messages by contacting the sender directly
- Enable Two-Step Verification in WhatsApp settings
- Regularly check Linked Devices for unauthorized access
- Be cautious of messages that create urgency or curiosity
Remember, WhatsApp will never ask you to verify your account through third-party websites.
The Ghost Pairing Scam is a reminder that modern cybercrime often targets human behavior rather than technology. Even secure platforms can be misused if users are tricked into granting access themselves.
Staying informed, alert, and skeptical of unexpected messages is the most effective defense. By understanding how this scam works and regularly monitoring your WhatsApp security settings, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim.