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WhatsApp scams: that stranger's message is a script

Editorially reviewed · Last updated September 8, 2026

Yes — this is a scam. Unexpected WhatsApp offers that demand money to unlock earnings or push an unverified investment are scam warnings.

Exhibit · Text message

Text Message · Today 2:47 PM
from +1 (628) 555-0174
Hello! I'm Mia from the recruitment team at a global marketing agency. We pay $300–$800/day for simple online tasks — liking videos and boosting products from your phone, 60–90 minutes anytime. No experience needed. Reply START and I'll add you to our task group.
Illustrative text message · not an original screenshot

Other versions you might get: Openers include a wrong-number message, job offer, unexpected investment group, or online relationship. Different scams use different payment routes; contact your provider promptly if you paid.

What to do right now

  1. Don't reply — not even “stop.” Block and report the number inside WhatsApp instead; a reply just confirms your account is live and worth keeping on the list.
  2. Leave groups you didn't ask to join. When someone outside your contacts adds you to a group, WhatsApp shows a safety overview with the group's details — you can exit without ever opening the chat.
  3. Never pay to unlock “earnings” or a withdrawal. Upfront fees, “taxes,” deposit-to-withdraw: the FBI warns that victims are unable to get their money back even after paying.
  4. If you already sent money, move fast. Contact your bank or crypto exchange immediately, and report to the FBI at ic3.gov with the platform name, wallet addresses, and chat screenshots.
  5. Report the scam at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If the opener arrived as a regular text message, forward that one to 7726 (SPAM) too.

Reduce the risk of another scam

Do not use the message’s link to check the claim. Open the real service yourself. If you paid or shared account details, start with what to do after a scam. Blocking and reporting can reduce unwanted contact, but they cannot stop every attempt or tell you how the sender found you.

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Take the free protection steps first

A suspicious message does not tell us how someone found your details. If you shared personal information, start with the official recovery guidance. You can also freeze your credit for free.

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Frequently asked

How do WhatsApp scams usually start?
With an opener designed to feel harmless: a “wrong number” or “hi, how are you?” text, a job offer with eye-catching daily pay, a group chat you were added to without asking, or a match from a dating app who suggests moving to WhatsApp. The FTC warns that these conversation starters are sent in bulk, and Meta's own investigations show scams often begin on SMS or dating apps and then migrate into WhatsApp — and onward to Telegram or a crypto platform — so no single service sees the full picture.
I was added to a WhatsApp group I never joined — what should I do?
Leave, without engaging. Unknown-group adds are a common scam opener, and when someone outside your contacts adds you to a group, WhatsApp now shows a safety overview — key information about the group and safety tips — and lets you exit without viewing the chat. Don't announce you're leaving, don't tap any links, and report the group if the option is offered.
Is that WhatsApp job offer real?
An unsolicited recruiter message alone does not prove fraud. Independently verify the employer and role. A task scheme that requires deposits or cryptocurrency to unlock earnings is a scam pattern; do not pay to release its displayed balance.
Someone on WhatsApp is teaching me to invest in crypto — is it a scam?
Yes — this is the pattern the FBI has warned about. Criminals build rapport through dating apps, social media, or encrypted messaging apps, claim investing expertise, then steer you to a fraudulent trading site or app they control. It shows you fake profits, coaches you to deposit more, and when you try to withdraw, demands fees or “taxes” — and even if you pay, the money doesn't come back. The FBI's advice: never invest on the recommendation of someone you've only met online.
Can I get my money back after a WhatsApp scam?
Contact your bank, card issuer, payment service, or crypto provider promptly and ask whether funds can be protected or recovered. Crypto generally lacks a card-style chargeback, but reporting can still help. Do not pay further release fees or unsolicited recovery agents; preserve transaction details and report to IC3.

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Sources

  1. 01New WhatsApp Tools and Tips to Beat Messaging Scams— Meta / WhatsApp
  2. 02Why it's not rude to ignore “hi, how are you?” text messages from strangers— Federal Trade Commission
  3. 03The FBI Warns of a Spike in Cryptocurrency Investment Schemes— FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
  4. 04What To Know About Cryptocurrency and Scams— Federal Trade Commission
  5. 05What To Do if You Were Scammed— consumer.ftc.gov
  6. 06Relationship Investment Scams — Protect Yourself— investor.gov
  7. 07How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams— consumer.ftc.gov

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Help protect someone else

If this could have fooled you, it can fool someone you know — a parent, a friend, the family group chat. It's safe to forward, and stands on its own as a record for a bank or the police.