Cantabria Guardia Civil warns of WhatsApp account takeovers

The Guardia Civil in Cantabria warned of WhatsApp account takeovers on older iPhones, with more than 20 complaints under investigation, according to reports published November 5, 2026. Contacts of affected users reportedly received requests for money by Bizum or bank transfer. The reported incidents were described as requiring no click, file opening, or answered call.

NeoTeo previously covered a Guardia Civil-attributed WhatsApp warning involving iPhones; this article concerns the complaints reported in Cantabria.

Before sending money in response to an urgent message, verify the request through a separate channel.

What the Cantabria warning described

The Guardia Civil account, as reported, linked the Cantabria complaints to older iPhones running older versions of iOS. Most of the phones were reportedly below iOS 18 and had not been updated to iOS 26. The reported count was more than 20 complaints, not a confirmed count of affected people.

The reports characterized the alleged method as “zero-click”: users reportedly did not need to click a link, open a file, or answer a call before losing control of their WhatsApp accounts. The accounts were then used to impersonate their owners and ask contacts for money. In some cases, attackers reportedly enabled WhatsApp two-step verification, leaving the account owner unable to access the app.

How to respond to a money request or account takeover

If someone you know sends an urgent request for money on WhatsApp, call them or contact them through another channel before paying. A reply in the same chat may reach whoever controls the account.

The Guardia Civil’s reported advice is to install available operating-system updates and enable WhatsApp’s additional authentication. The additional step uses a six-digit PIN. Reinstalling WhatsApp alone is not considered sufficient.

If you lose access to your account, alert your contacts another way. If you have already sent money, contact your bank through its official channels and ask whether it can stop or recover the transfer.

Apple’s listed iOS updates for different iPhones

Apple’s security-release listing, published October 30, 2026, names iOS 27.2 as its latest iOS release on that page. It also lists separate updates for iPhone groups. All three releases below are dated October 26, 2026. Apple’s security-release listing gives the versions and compatible models.

Install the system update available for your iPhone and turn on WhatsApp’s additional authentication.

Spain’s Guardia Civil Investigates Reported WhatsApp “Zero-Click” Scam