WhatsApp Hacked in the UK? How to Get It Back

If your WhatsApp is hacked in the UK, reinstall WhatsApp and register your number again using the SMS code. That signs the intruder out of your number. Then turn on two-step verification and check Linked Devices. Warn your contacts by text or another app not to send money. If anyone lost money, they should contact their bank and report to Report Fraud (0300 123 2040), or Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland.

#How do I recover a hacked WhatsApp?

1. Reinstall or open WhatsApp and register with your phone number.
2. Enter the six-digit SMS code. WhatsApp's help centre explains that verifying your number again logs the other device out (WhatsApp FAQ).
3. If asked for a two-step PIN you didn't set, the hacker has set one. You may need to wait before you can verify without it.
4. Turn on two-step verification yourself once you're back in.
5. Check Linked Devices and log out of unknown sessions.

#How do WhatsApp takeovers usually happen in the UK?

Action Fraud has warned about a scam that starts in group chats. A hacked member's account messages others pretending to need a code, and then takes over each victim's account in turn (Action Fraud).

"The WhatsApp route we hear about most often is still a verification" - code handover: someone posing as a friend or as 'support' asks for the SMS code. Action Fraud has also warned about group-chat code tricks. Never share that code; re-register the number on a trusted device to reclaim the account." - Md Shariar Shanaz Shuvon, Founder, AwareXone

#What should I tell my contacts?

Send a text or post on another platform: "My WhatsApp was hacked. Ignore any requests for money or codes from my number." Report Fraud's guidance on social media hacking warns that criminals use hacked accounts to scam friends and family (Report Fraud).

#What if someone sent money to the hacker?

They should contact their bank straight away. For authorised push payment scams, the FCA explains the reimbursement rules that have applied since 7 October 2024, which cover up to £85,000 per claim with some exceptions. Banks may deduct up to £100 (FCA). Report to Report Fraud.

#What if I can't get back in?

• Wait out any two-step PIN lock period, then register again.
• Make sure you still control your SIM. If your number was ported, contact your mobile network.
• Contact WhatsApp support from within the app (Settings > Help).

#Which recovery scams should I avoid?

• People offering to "unlock" WhatsApp for a fee;
• fake WhatsApp support accounts;
• anyone asking for your SMS code or PIN.

#When is professional help useful?

WhatsApp recovery is usually something you can do yourself. Help can make sense for WhatsApp Business accounts with customer impact. SocialSafe by AwareXone works only through official channels, never asks for passwords or one-time codes, and doesn't promise outcomes. We reply within 5 hours between 9am and 11pm MYT. UK clients are quoted and billed in USD, with the fee confirmed after case review. See how a case review works on the SocialSafe by AwareXone WhatsApp account recovery page, or check pricing and the Trust Center.

#What evidence should I keep?

Before reporting to Report Fraud or your bank, keep screenshots of the message that started the takeover, the number it came from, the time you lost access, and any messages sent from your account. If contacts paid money, ask them to keep their payment receipts and the recipient account details. Report Fraud uses this to link reports. Don't delete chats that show the scam.

#How do I protect WhatsApp groups I run?

If you administer a group (a school, sports club or community group), tell members quickly that your account was compromised. Consider temporarily changing the group settings so only admins can send messages until you're back in control. Remind members never to share six-digit codes, even with people they know. Action Fraud's warning notes these scams spread from member to member inside groups (Action Fraud).

#Step by step: what to do if WhatsApp asks for a two-step PIN you didn't set

1. Don't guess repeatedly.
2. If you set up an email for two-step verification yourself, use the "Forgot PIN" option to get a reset link. If the hacker set the PIN, that link will go to their email.
3. Otherwise, WhatsApp says you'll need to wait a few days before you can reset access without the PIN (WhatsApp Help Center).
4. While you wait, warn your contacts through another channel.
5. Once you're back, set your own PIN and add your own email.

#What should WhatsApp Business users do differently?

If customers message your business number, a takeover can reach them directly. Post a notice on your website and other social channels, update your Google Business Profile if you use one, and tell customers you'll never ask for payment to a new account by WhatsApp. Once you've recovered the number, review the business profile details, catalogue links and any quick replies the hacker might have edited. If customers were defrauded, encourage them to contact their bank and Report Fraud.

Last checked: 14 October 2026. Platform policies change; always confirm steps on the provider's own help pages before you act.