Delete one text immediately, or your WhatsApp account will be at risk

If you suddenly receive a message from one of your friends asking you to vote, beware. It appears that a worrying new text scam is sweeping across parts of Europe, and falling victim to it could leave you locked out of your WhatsApp account and your contacts at risk of losing money

This latest threat has been spotted by the team at Bitdefender and uses an emotional tactic in a bid to get you clicking on links and handing over personal security codes.

It all starts with a message that reads, “Hi! Please vote for Adeline in this contest, she’s the daughter of a close friend. The main prize is a scholarship abroad. Thank you so much!”

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Let's be honest, if that came from a family member, you might not think twice about clicking on what appears to be a harmless link.

However, doing so comes with a massive warning, as you'll be taken to a fake website where you'll be asked to vote. Once tapped, a message then instantly pops up asking for your phone number, along with a code that will be sent to the device.

This is where things get scary, as there is no vote. It's purely a scam aimed at getting access to WhatsApp accounts.

It's pretty simple: once a cybercriminal obtains a phone number and the WhatsApp security code you've just provided, they can then access your account and lock you out of it.

Crooks then set about sending more fake messages to your contacts, which can be used to trick people into handing over money or personal details.

Explaining more, Bitdefender said: "This gives attackers instant access to their accounts, which they then use to propagate the scam and defraud new victims of money,"

The threat is currently ongoing and with attackers now deploying 177 fraudulent domains and 554 unique URLs, targeting thousands of users over the past two months alone.

"Bitdefender Labs has been monitoring a rapidly expanding campaign that exploits WhatsApp users through fraudulent “voting contests” to take over accounts and steal money," Bitdefender explained.

"This “Vote for My Child” scam hijacks accounts by tricking users into sharing their verification codes, turning friends and family into unknowing amplifiers of the fraud."

So far, it appears the majority of the attacks have taken place in areas such as Poland, Romania and Germany, but the UK could be next, so stay alert.

To help WhatsApp users stay safe, Bitdefender has now issued some advice and tips on how to avoid being scammed. These include not sharing any codes and reporting strange messages.

Here's some of Bitdefender's advice and three rules to stop you getting scammed

• Never share your WhatsApp verification code with anyone — not even friends or family

• Verify requests for money or favours through a direct phone call

• Report suspicious messages within WhatsApp (“More → Report”)

If hacked:

• Try to regain control by requesting a new verification code

• Contact WhatsApp support at support@whatsapp.com

• Notify your bank if money has been transferred

• Inform your contacts about the compromise

WhatsApp also says you should share any codes with anyone.

In a message on its help page, the chat app said, "To protect your account, WhatsApp will send you a push notification when someone tries to register a WhatsApp account with your phone number. To keep your account safe, don't share your verification code with others.

"When you receive this notification, it means that someone has entered your phone number and requested the registration code.

"You should never share your WhatsApp verification code with others."