A new and highly dangerous cyber fraud, known as Ghost Pairing, has recently surfaced on WhatsApp, posing a serious threat to users’ privacy. Hyderabad Police Commissioner Sajjanar has issued a public alert, warning citizens about the growing risk of this scam, which allows hackers to gain access to WhatsApp accounts without directly stealing passwords or OTPs.
In Ghost Pairing, cybercriminals secretly link a victim’s WhatsApp account to their own browser or device using WhatsApp Web. Victims are typically tricked into clicking a fraudulent link sent from a familiar or seemingly trusted number. The link leads to a fake webpage that asks for the user’s phone number and an 8-digit WhatsApp pairing code, falsely claiming it is for verification. Once entered, the hacker’s device gets linked to the victim’s account.
వాట్సాప్లో కొత్త మోసం… 'ఘోస్ట్ పేయిరింగ్'తో జాగ్రత్త!
"హేయ్.. మీ ఫొటో చూశారా?" అంటూ ఏదైనా లింక్ వచ్చిందా? తెలిసిన వారి నుంచి వచ్చినా సరే.. పొరపాటున కూడా క్లిక్ చేయకండి.
ఇదొక 'ఘోస్ట్ పేయిరింగ్' (GhostPairing) స్కామ్.
ఆ లింక్ క్లిక్ చేస్తే నకిలీ వాట్సాప్ వెబ్ పేజీ… https://t.co/SlysOHuA2Q
— V.C. Sajjanar, IPS (@SajjanarVC) December 21, 2025
Risks to Users
After successful pairing, hackers can monitor personal and group chats in real time, access photos and videos, and potentially steal sensitive data, including banking-related information. The compromised account may also be used to spread malware links to the victim’s contacts, widening the impact of the scam.
Safety Advisory
Police have urged users not to click on suspicious links or share verification codes under any circumstances. Users are advised to regularly check the Linked Devices section in WhatsApp settings, immediately log out of unknown devices, enable two-step verification, and stay alert to notifications about new device linking attempts they did not initiate.
Authorities have stressed that increased awareness and cautious online behavior are key to preventing WhatsApp account takeovers through Ghost Pairing scams.