The New WhatsApp 'Vote' Scam: What Every Family Should Know

A new scam is currently spreading on WhatsApp using genuine family and friends' accounts. This guide explains how it works, how to protect your family WhatsApp group, and exactly what to do if you or someone you know has already clicked.

Free Calls for Seniors

8/17/20262 min read

Why this one catches people out

Most of us have learned to be wary of messages from strangers. This scam is different — it can arrive from someone whose name and photo you already recognise, because their account has been taken over without them realising.

The message looks harmless: something about voting for a school event, a competition, or 'the cutest pet'. It plays on a natural instinct to help out a friend or family member with something small and fun.

How the scam works

  1. A message arrives from a contact's account asking you to click a link and 'vote'

  2. The link opens what looks like a WhatsApp page, asking you to verify your account

  3. There is no real vote — entering your details hands your account straight to the criminals

  4. Your account is then used to send the same message to your contacts, continuing the chain

Because the message comes from someone real, it slips past the usual instinct to be suspicious of unknown numbers.

How to protect your family group

  • Don't click voting, poll or competition links you weren't expecting — even from people you know well

  • If a message feels a little 'off' in tone, ring the person on their usual number and ask if they really sent it

  • Turn on two-step verification, so even if someone gets your password, they can't get into your account without a PIN only you know

Turning on two-step verification

  1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings

  2. Tap Account, then Two-step verification

  3. Tap Enable and set a six-digit PIN you'll remember

  4. Add a recovery email in case you ever forget it

WhatsApp's new Scam Alert feature

WhatsApp is also rolling out a built-in Scam Alert feature, which quietly checks messages from people outside your contacts for common scam patterns and shows a warning before you reply. It's a helpful extra layer, though it's still rolling out gradually, so don't worry if you can't see it in your Settings just yet.

If you've already clicked

  • Open WhatsApp and change your password immediately in Settings > Account

  • Let your family and friends know your account may have sent them a scam link, so they don't click it either

  • Report the message to WhatsApp by pressing and holding it and selecting Report

This is a well-designed scam, and plenty of careful, sensible people have been caught out by it. There's no need to feel embarrassed — sorting it quickly is what matters.

A note on extra protection

If you'd like some extra peace of mind day-to-day, security software such as Bitdefender can scan links before you tap them, on your phone as well as your computer. We may earn a small commission if you sign up through our link, at no extra cost to you — but the free steps above are enough to keep your family group safe.

Staying connected, safely

Family WhatsApp groups are one of the loveliest ways to stay close to the people you love — a couple of minutes setting up two-step verification means you can keep enjoying that, with one less thing to worry about.

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