How to report a scammer on WhatsApp

WhatsApp's official guidance describes reporting a contact, business, unknown number, or group through the same in-app process: open the chat, then use the contact or group info screen to find the report option (on most versions this sits alongside "Block"). You can report without blocking, and blocking without reporting — the two are separate actions and you don't need to do both.

To block a business specifically, open the chat with the business, tap the business name, then tap Block business, select a reason, and confirm source. A catalog or business account can also be reported directly from its profile using the same report option available for any chat.

For a group, reporting is done from the group info screen; WhatsApp only needs the group and the content shared inside it to review the report, so you don't need to identify every member individually.

WhatsApp's help center is specific about this: reporting a user without blocking them does not stop you from receiving their messages, calls or status updates. When you report an individual chat, WhatsApp receives up to five of the last messages that person sent you; when you report a group, WhatsApp receives up to five of the last messages sent to you in that group. If a call took place in an individual chat, WhatsApp may also receive basic call metadata, such as who started the call and how long it lasted source.

WhatsApp also receives the reported user or group ID and information about when messages were sent and what type they were (image, video, text, and so on). Reporting a user or group does not give WhatsApp access to your other chats, and — importantly — the reported user or group is not notified that you reported them source.

WhatsApp also states plainly that it may ban accounts it believes violate its Terms of Service, but that a report won't necessarily result in a ban or any other action, and that contacting WhatsApp outside the in-app process does not speed up review or change the outcome. WhatsApp says it will acknowledge receipt of a report but will not routinely share the outcome of the review with the person who reported it source.

In the sense that matters to most people asking this question: yes, the person you report is not told who reported them, or that a report was filed at all. What is not anonymous is your relationship to WhatsApp itself — the report is tied to your account and phone number on WhatsApp's backend, since that's required to process it and to send WhatsApp the recent messages and metadata described above. Reporting does not, however, disclose your identity to the reported user, and blocking (a separate action) prevents them from contacting you again regardless of whether you also reported them.

If the conversation uses disappearing messages, or you suspect the other side may delete the chat or block you first, capture evidence immediately:

• Export the chat: open the chat, tap the menu (More options), then More > Export chat, choose with or without media, and send it to yourself by email or save it to notes. Exported chats are plain text files, so keep them somewhere you can find later — they can't be re-imported back into WhatsApp source.
• Screenshot as you go: for messages already set to disappear, exporting after the fact may be too late, since disappearing messages are removed from the chat once their timer runs out. Screenshot key messages, including WhatsApp's visible timestamps, as soon as you see them.
• Save the full phone number with country code: WhatsApp identifies accounts by phone number, so the complete number (including the country code, e.g. +1, +44) is the single most useful piece of information for any later report to WhatsApp, your carrier, the police, or Fraudpol.
• Payment details: record any bank details, payment app handles, gift card codes or cryptocurrency addresses shared in the chat, along with transaction references from your own banking app.

A few formats recur often enough on WhatsApp that recognizing the opening lines can stop a scam before it goes further:

• Job offer scams: an unknown number offers easy remote work (often "product boosting" or "task completion" jobs) paying unrealistic amounts, then asks for an upfront deposit or app download before you can be "paid."
• Wrong-number and pig-butchering openers: a message arrives that looks like a misdirected text to a stranger ("Hi, is this the restaurant?"), and if you reply, the sender builds a friendly relationship over days or weeks before introducing an investment or trading opportunity.
• Family-impersonation "hi mum" or "hi dad" messages: a message from an unfamiliar number claims to be a child or relative using a new phone after theirs was lost or broken, then asks you to save the new number and later requests money urgently, often to a third party's account source. The pressure relies on speed, so verify by calling the person's known number before sending anything.
• Verification-code theft: someone claiming to be a friend, business, or "WhatsApp support" asks you to forward a six-digit code you just received by SMS or WhatsApp. That code lets someone register your phone number on a new device, effectively taking over your account — never share a verification code with anyone, no matter who they claim to be.

Because WhatsApp accounts are tied to phone numbers, a scam number can also be reported outside WhatsApp. Most mobile carriers accept reports of numbers used for scam calls or texts, sometimes through a short code or an app built into your phone's messaging settings. If the number is associated with a financial loss, report it to your bank or payment provider as soon as possible, and file a report with your local police or your country's national fraud-reporting body (for example, the FBI's IC3 in the United States or Action Fraud in the UK). Include the full number with country code, exported chat text or screenshots, and any payment references.

Fraudpol accepts reports that include a WhatsApp phone number, exported chat text or screenshots, and any payment details connected to the conversation. Reports are reviewed manually, and where a case is substantiated it can be referred to the competent authorities. Fraudpol does not recover money, never charges victims a fee, and never contacts you unsolicited asking for payment; it is not a government agency or law enforcement body, and filing with Fraudpol does not replace reporting to WhatsApp, your bank, or the police.

If the scam involved a specific individual or group, you can report a scammer. If you were contacted by phone or SMS as well as WhatsApp, see our guide on how to report a scammer's phone number.

Last checked: September 2026.

• About reporting and blocking on WhatsApp
• How to block or unblock a business
• How to export your chat history
• How to stay safe on WhatsApp
• "Hi Mum" message scams: How to spot and avoid them