Young people & students › Account hacked or fake profile

WhatsApp hacked and asking my contacts for money

What usually matters in this situation, and the papers to keep ready before you meet an advocate or free legal aid (call 15100).

Your situation

• What happened? My account was hacked
• Is the account being used to ask people for money or post things? Asking my friends for money

Where you stand

• Be careful Anyone offering to "recover" your account for a fee in your DMs is a scammer.

Do these now

• Warn your contacts not to send money or OTPs
  Hackers target your friends next. Where: Status / story from another account.
• Complaint on cybercrime.gov.in (and 1930 if money was lost)
  Needed if recovery fails or money was taken. Where: cybercrime.gov.in / 1930

Papers to gather

• Your account username, linked email and phone
  Needed for recovery and complaints. Where: Your old messages, email.
• Proof it is yours: old screenshots, ID, photos you posted, purchase receipts
  Platforms ask for this during recovery. Where: Gallery, email.
• Security emails / SMS about login, password or email change
  Shows the hack and its timing; often has a "secure account" link. Where: Email inbox, spam folder.
• Messages sent from your account to others
  Shows what the hacker did in your name. Where: Ask friends to forward screenshots.

You may also need, depending on your answers

• Use the app's official "hacked account" recovery page — Only the official flow can restore access.
• Change password, turn on two-step verification, log out other devices — Stops the hacker getting back in.

What the law says

Saboot will also ask

• Can you still log in?
• Did you lose any money?

Similar situations

• Instagram account hacked
• Email hacked and password changed
• Facebook hacked and posting bad things
• Fake account using my name and photos
• Our office computers were locked by ransomware

Sources

• IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026 — G.S.R. 120(E), in force 20 Feb 2026 (intimate-image complaints: action within 2 hours)
• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (MHA)

The full guide: My Instagram, WhatsApp, email or gaming account was hacked, or someone made a fake profile of me · All situations