Help and guidance
What to do after a WhatsApp scam?
Stop contact and act calmly but immediately. There is no need to feel ashamed. Your bank and the police can explain what is possible in your situation.
Do this first
- Call the person yourself on the old, known number, not the number in the message.
- Do not transfer money when in doubt and do not share codes.
- Already sent money? Contact your bank immediately using its official number.
Contact your bank immediately
Use the official number on your bank card, in your bank app or on its official website. Explain when, how much and to which account you sent money.
Ask what steps are possible now. Recovering money is not guaranteed. Do not pay anyone promising to recover it for a fee.
Keep evidence and report the scam
Keep the conversation, phone number and payment details. Share them only with your bank and official help services, not publicly.
In the Netherlands, ask the Fraudehelpdesk for help and report to the police. Call 112 in immediate danger. Elsewhere, use the official local services listed on the emergency page.
Did you also share information or codes?
Tell your bank immediately. Follow its instructions to block access or change details. Use official apps and websites, not links from the sender.
Warn your contact on their old known number if someone is using their name. Do not transfer any more money when in doubt.
Agree on checks for next time
Later, agree on a consistent check together: call yourself and act only when no doubt remains.
Torivela can add a question to a trusted contact personally linked beforehand. It does not recover money, automatically read WhatsApp or guarantee payments or identity.
Torivela offers an extra check of one specific request outside the original chat through a trusted contact personally linked beforehand. It is not an automatic phishing or URL scanner and does not guarantee identity, sender, IBAN or payment. Security has not yet been independently reviewed.