Warning about a new WhatsApp scam: your account is stolen after a video call.

The National Cybersecurity Institute (Incibe) has warned about the discovery of a new type of scam in which cybercriminals use video calls to take over WhatsApp accounts, impersonate victims, and request money from their contacts via Bizum .

According to the agency, the alert arose after a user called the toll-free number 017, reporting losing access to their WhatsApp account after receiving a seemingly harmless video call from one of their contacts. The call was accompanied by darkness.

When the victim inquired about the missing image, the attacker responded that he was having a problem with his device and asked him to share the screen to try to resolve it. During that session, the user received an SMS with a WhatsApp verification code, which was visible to the cybercriminal while sharing the screen.

From that moment on, the victim lost access to the app. Shortly after, several of his contacts began receiving messages from his account requesting urgent money via Bizum or asking them to resend a code they had just received via SMS, continuing the chain of scams.

Incibe has detailed the steps victims of this type of fraud should follow. First, it's essential to alert all contacts to prevent them from being scammed, as well as informing the contact from whom the video call was received, as they have likely also been a victim of account theft.

It's recommended to reinstall WhatsApp to try to regain access using a new verification code. If a message appears indicating that you must wait between 9 and 11 hours, it's recommended to try again later. You should also contact WhatsApp technical support for assistance.

If you are unable to recover your account with these steps, Incibe advises contacting WhatsApp's Data Protection Officer. If the situation has not been resolved after a month, you should file a complaint with the Spanish Data Protection Agency for violation of your right to recover your account.

Furthermore, it is recommended that you gather as much evidence as possible to file a report in person with the State Security Forces, as this is a crime of identity theft.

To prevent these types of attacks, Incibe reminds users of the importance of enabling two-step verification on WhatsApp, not sharing their screen with people whose identity hasn't been verified, and never revealing or forwarding codes received via SMS, especially verification codes.