WhatsApp Scam Reports

Phishing Link

What is a Phishing Link scam?

A message urges you to click a link and log in — often mimicking a bank, delivery service, or WhatsApp itself — to steal your credentials or verification codes.

Red flags to watch for

  • The link is a shortened URL or a domain that almost, but not quite, matches the real service.
  • The message creates urgency: "verify now," "account will be suspended," "unusual login detected."
  • The page asks for a password or a one-time code right after you click through.
  • It arrived unprompted, referencing an account or order you don't recognize.

What to do

Don't click through from the message at all -- open the real app or type the company's known URL directly, and check from there. If you already entered a password or code, change that password immediately and enable two-factor authentication where it isn't already on.

How common this is, officially

IC3's "Phishing/Spoofing" category received 191,561 complaints in 2025, with reported losses of $216 million.

— FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2025 Internet Crime Report

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Frequently asked questions

How is a scam type determined for a report?

The reporter selects it when filing, from a fixed list of common patterns -- not inferred automatically from the notes.

What if a report matches more than one pattern?

Reporters pick the single closest match. Read the notes on each report for the full description, which often blends more than one tactic.

How often is this page updated?

Immediately — every count here reflects the reports on file in real time, not a periodic snapshot.

Report this to official agencies

This case file is a self-reported community record, not an official investigation. If you were targeted, consider also filing a report with a national or international fraud authority:

Been targeted by a scammer?

File a report with the number, name, and what happened — it's published immediately and warns the next person who searches.

Report a scammer