Most scams today do not arrive by email. They arrive as a WhatsApp or Telegram message from a number you do not recognise — or worse, from an account that looks exactly like someone you know. The message is short, urgent, and personal, which is why it works. This guide covers the scams you are most likely to meet, the warning signs, and what to do if you have already replied.

The scams you will actually see

Scammers reuse a small set of stories because they work. Knowing them in advance makes them easy to recognise.

The impersonation message. "Hi, this is your son — I lost my phone, this is my new number, please send money urgently." Or a message from a "friend" who needs help paying a bill. The account may even use your real contact's photo and name. The story always involves urgency and money, and the sender cannot talk on a call.

The fake job offer. "Earn money from home, no experience needed, just like and subscribe to videos." The job turns out to involve paying a fee to start, or completing tasks that pay less and less until you are asked to deposit money to "unlock" your earnings. Real employers do not ask you to pay to work for them.

The prize or lottery. "Congratulations, you have won a cash prize / a free phone / a car." You only need to pay a small delivery fee or tax first. There is no prize. The fee is the scam.

The crypto doubling trick. "Send me a small amount of cryptocurrency and I will send back double." Sometimes the message comes from an account pretending to be a celebrity or a well-known investor. No one doubles your money for free, and the "celebrity" is an impersonator.

The fake support message. "Your WhatsApp account will be closed. Verify now." Or "Your Telegram account has been reported." The message includes a link to a fake login page. Messaging apps do not warn you about account problems this way — and they never ask for your password or verification code.

The parcel or bank message. "Your parcel is held at customs, pay a fee to release it." Or "Suspicious activity on your bank account, click here." The link leads to a fake page designed to steal your login or card details.

Warning signs in any message

Before you reply to an unexpected message, check for these signs. One alone may mean nothing; two or three together mean you should stop.

  • Urgency. "Send it now." "Do it in the next hour." "Your account closes today." Urgency is the scammer's main tool — it stops you from checking.
  • Money, codes, or gift cards. Any request for money, a bank transfer, cryptocurrency, a gift card, or a verification code from a stranger — or from a "friend" on a new number — is a red flag.
  • A new number or a lookalike username. On WhatsApp, a new number claiming to be someone you know. On Telegram, a username that is almost the same as a real person's, with one letter changed. Always check the full number or username, not the photo.
  • Links you did not ask for. Shortened links, links to strange domains, or links that arrive with a story that does not quite add up.
  • Too-good offers. Free money, a job paying far above normal rates, or a prize for a competition you never entered.
  • Refusal to talk. The sender says their microphone is broken, they cannot take a call, or they are in a meeting. A real friend in trouble will usually take a call.
  • Odd language. Messages that switch languages mid-sentence, use your name wrong, or sound nothing like the person they claim to be.

How to verify a suspicious message

Verification takes one minute and stops most scams. If a message claims to be from someone you know, contact that person through a different channel you already trust: call them on the number saved in your phone, or message them on another app. Do not reply to the suspicious message to ask if it is real — the scammer will simply say yes.

Ask a question only the real person could answer — something that is not on their public profile. If the message is about a parcel, a bank, or an account, go to the official app or website yourself and check there. Never use the link or phone number in the message.

If a message offers a job, a prize, or an investment, search for the exact wording online. Scam messages are sent to thousands of people, and someone has usually reported the same text before. If you find it, you have your answer.

What to do if you already replied or sent money

Act quickly and do not be embarrassed — these messages are designed by professionals and sent to millions of people. If you shared a verification code, your account may be taken over. Try to sign in and turn on two-step verification immediately. On WhatsApp, that is under Settings, then Account. On Telegram, it is under Settings, then Privacy and Security. If you cannot sign in, use the app's account recovery option and contact support.

If you sent money, contact your bank or payment service straight away and explain what happened. The sooner you report it, the better the chance of stopping the transfer. Keep screenshots of the messages, the number or username, and any payment details as evidence.

Report the message inside the app — WhatsApp and Telegram both have a report option — and then block the sender. If the scammer was impersonating someone you know, warn that person, because their contacts may be targeted next. And tell your family, especially older relatives, about the exact message you received. Scammers move on to the next target quickly, and a warning from you may be what stops them.

Settings that protect you

A few settings make you a harder target. On WhatsApp, turn on two-step verification with a PIN you will remember, and set your profile photo and "last seen" to be visible to your contacts only. On Telegram, turn on two-step verification too, and check who can see your phone number — set it to your contacts, not everyone. On both apps, control who can add you to groups, because scammers use large groups to find new victims.

Be careful about what you share publicly. Your full name, your workplace, your family members' names, and your travel plans are all useful to someone building a convincing impersonation message. You do not need to hide everything — just avoid posting details that would help a stranger pretend to be you or someone close to you.

Finally, remember the simplest rule of all: if a message asks for money, a code, or a password, and you were not expecting it, stop. Verify through another channel. A real friend will understand the delay; a scammer is counting on you not taking it.