Hyderabad: Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar has issued a cyber alert regarding a new online fraud known as the GhostPairing scam. The GhostPairing targets WhatsApp users through deceptive messages.
According to the alert, users may receive a message saying, “Hey, I just found your photo,” along with a link. Although the message may appear to come from a known contact, police warned users about potential dangers due to the GhostPairing scam.
Instead, officials said the link redirects victims to a fake WhatsApp Web page. Once users pair their accounts there, scammers can quietly access the WhatsApp account using GhostPairing techniques.
Notably, this access does not require OTPs, SIM swaps, or system alerts. As a result, victims often remain unaware of the breach and fall prey to the GhostPairing scam.
GhostPairing scam enables silent control of WhatsApp accounts
Once access is gained, scammers can read private chats and view photos and videos. In addition to this scam, they can access contact lists and send messages posing as the user.
In some cases, attackers may also lock victims out of their own WhatsApp accounts using tactics related to GhostPairing. Therefore, police stressed the need for immediate caution against GhostPairing scam techniques.
To stay safe, the commissioner advised users to avoid clicking on unknown or suspicious links that could lead to scams involving GhostPairing techniques. He also urged users not to enter pairing details or scan QR codes on external websites.
Moreover, police asked users to regularly check the “Linked Devices” option in WhatsApp settings, as a precaution against this scam. They also recommended enabling two-step verification for added security to protect against GhostPairing scam methods.
Finally, the Hyderabad Police urged citizens to share the alert widely, emphasising the threat posed by the GhostPairing scam. They warned that even one careless click could compromise an entire WhatsApp account.
🚨 Cyber Alert: New WhatsApp “GhostPairing” scam 🚨
If you receive a message saying “Hey, I just found your photo” with a link — DO NOT click it, even if it appears to come from someone you know.
⚠️ This is a GhostPairing scam.
The link takes you to a fake WhatsApp Web page and… pic.twitter.com/7PsZJXw2pt— V.C. Sajjanar, IPS (@SajjanarVC) December 21, 2025