WhatsApp users who have received a 6 digit code and then a text message like the one below, which states they were sent the code by mistake and asks them to pass it to the sender, are asked not to do so. This is because the message is a WhatsApp scam being used by cybercriminals to trick potential victims into giving them their WhatsApp code that can be used to gain access to and hijack their accounts.
The 6 Digit Code Scam Text
Hello, sorry, I sent you a 6-digit code by mistake, can you pass it to me please? It's urgent?"
The six-digit verification WhatsApp code is also known as OTP (One Time Password). It is a random combination of six numbers that are temporarily generated and sent via SMS or call to authenticate a WhatsApp account at the time of setup
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. This often happens if another user mistyped your number when trying to enter their own number to register, and can also happen when someone attempts to take over your account.
You should never share your WhatsApp verification code with others. If someone is trying to take over your account, they need the SMS verification code sent to your phone number to do so. Without this code, any user attempting to verify your number can’t complete the verification process and use your phone number on WhatsApp. This means you remain in control of your WhatsApp account.
If you were tricked by the "WhatsApp 6-Digit Code By Mistake" scam and your account has been hijacked by cybercriminals, please continue reading for information about regaining access to your account.
How to Recover Your WhatsApp Account
Sign into WhatsApp with your phone number and verify your phone number by entering the 6-digit code you receive via SMS. Once you enter the 6-digit SMS code, the individual using your account is automatically logged out.
You might also be asked to provide a two-step verification code. If you don't know this code, the individual using your account might have enabled two-step verification. You must wait 7 days before you can sign in without the two-step verification code. Regardless of whether you know this verification code, the other individual was logged out of your account once you entered the 6-digit SMS code.