Identity scam guide
WhatsApp impersonation
WhatsApp impersonation often uses a known person's photo and urgent messages to request money, gift cards, OTPs, or confidential information. Verify through a separate channel before acting.
Risk signal
Known contact spoof
Severity
high
Group
Identity
Common identifiers
Add identifiers that can be matched safely across reports, profiles, payments, and evidence without exposing unnecessary private data.
WhatsApp number
Use the exact whatsapp number shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
Display photo
Use the exact display photo shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
UPI ID
Use the exact upi id shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
Chat export
Use the exact chat export shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
Evidence to preserve
Keep proof in original form where possible. Screenshots help, but transaction IDs, URLs, timestamps, and chat context make moderation stronger.
Chat screenshots
Capture chat screenshots with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
Phone number
Capture phone number with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
Profile photo
Capture profile photo with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
Payment demand
Capture payment demand with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
First response
These steps reduce further loss and keep your report useful for review, banking escalation, platform reporting, and official complaints.
Call the real person separately
Do this early: call the real person separately helps reduce repeat contact, preserve proof, and keep escalation options open.
Do not share OTPs
Do this early: do not share otps helps reduce repeat contact, preserve proof, and keep escalation options open.
Report and block the fake number
Do this early: report and block the fake number helps reduce repeat contact, preserve proof, and keep escalation options open.
Urgent money loss
If money was recently transferred, call 1930 first and raise a bank or payment-app dispute. Speed matters for fund-freeze attempts.
Privacy boundary
Do not upload OTPs, passwords, full card numbers, full Aadhaar, private documents, or unrelated intimate media. Use masked, relevant evidence whenever possible.
Related categories
Similar fraud patterns
Duplicate identity
Fake identity fraud
Stolen, synthetic, or false identities used to bypass trust and verification.
Profile clone
Social media impersonation
Cloned accounts or fake pages used to deceive followers, friends, customers, or communities.
Synthetic media
Deepfake impersonation
AI-generated voice, video, or images used to impersonate real people or create false trust.