Warning Friends After Your Account Was Hacked
Your account was hacked and may have messaged your contacts. Ready-to-use message templates, which channels to use, and what to tell people who already replied or paid.
When an account is taken over, the hacker often goes straight to your contacts: asking for money, codes, clicks or "investments". Warning people quickly protects them, and it also helps you, because friends who know can report the account and tell you what the hacker is saying.
Which channels to use
- Another messaging app or text message.
- A phone call to close family and anyone likely to send money.
- Your other social accounts, with a public post or story.
- Email, for work contacts or groups.
- Group chats you are in, asking members to ignore messages from the hacked account.
Message templates
Do not include links in your warning. People are rightly suspicious of links right now, and your message should not look like the scam.
If someone already replied or paid
- Tell them to contact their bank or payment provider immediately. See what to tell your bank.
- If they shared a code, their own account may be at risk. Help them change their password and secure the account.
- Ask them to screenshot the messages and report the account.
- Report the scam to your national service. See how to report a scam.
Then fix the account
Recover it through the official route and secure it. See your first hour after an account takeover and what scammers do with hacked accounts.
Friends forwarding odd messages? Paste them into CyberWatch AI Scan for a free check.
For more, read our guide to account takeover and identity protection.
Frequently asked questions
Should I warn people before I get my account back?
Yes. Warn contacts through other channels immediately, because the hacker may be messaging them right now.
What if a friend already sent money?
Tell them to contact their bank or payment provider straight away and report it. The sooner they act, the better their chance of stopping the payment.
Is it embarrassing to post that I was hacked?
It is common and responsible. Your warning protects people who trust you, and many will thank you for it.
Sources
- How To Recover Your Hacked Email or Social Media Account, US Federal Trade Commission
- How to recover a compromised account, WhatsApp Help Center
- What To Do if You Were Scammed, US Federal Trade Commission
