A new scam is making rounds on WhatsApp, and this time it's being called the "Profile Photo Scam"—a term coined based on the way scammers operate. The scam has been officially acknowledged on government-linked social media accounts.

WhatsApp is one of the most widely used apps on our smartphones—people use it daily for chatting, calling, video calls, and status updates. Taking advantage of this, cybercriminals have devised a clever new trick.

Here's how it works:

• Scammers send messages on WhatsApp claiming to be someone familiar.

• Their profile photo includes an image of your close friend or family member—making it look trustworthy.

• This creates an illusion that the message is from someone you know personally.

• Once you feel comfortable, the scammer claims to be in trouble—typically an accident or emergency situation.

After winning your trust, the scammer asks for urgent financial help, often stating they need money for medical treatment following an accident. Given the emotional urgency and the seeming authenticity of the profile photo, people panic and send money without verifying the claim.

Thanks to fast online transactions, these scams are pulled off quickly—and often go unnoticed until it’s too late.

Experts have warned that scammers are also using deepfake audio to mimic the voice of your friend or family member. This adds another layer of deception and helps build trust more easily.

Once the victim is convinced, they transfer the money—only to later realize they've been tricked.

To avoid falling for such scams:

• Don’t trust unknown WhatsApp contacts, even if their profile photo includes someone you know.

• Always verify the identity—call your actual friend or family member directly.

• If someone asks for money on WhatsApp, double-check through another channel before sending any amount.

• Never act solely based on a photo or voice clip—it could be faked.

Early caution can protect you from becoming a victim.