- WhatsApp username impersonation issues have been reported.
- WhatsApp and Meta say popular names are reserved
- India wants to suspend rollout of username reservations
WhatsApp will launch a username feature later this year, to let you add contacts without revealing your phone number – but even though handle reservations have gone live for many users, some reports indicate that username impersonation is already a problem.
According to tests carried out by TechCrunch, usernames very similar to those of Indian politicians, celebrities, business figures and public institutions are available. They include “indiamodi” (for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi) and “shahrukh.actor” for Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan.
This focus on India is because the country’s authorities have already asked WhatsApp to suspend username reservations. According to the BBC, Indian government suggests WhatsApp usernames could “increase cybercrime” like online fraud and phishing scams – already big concerns in the country.
The idea is that usernames could allow fraudsters to operate without revealing their numbers (which can be spotted in blacklists). If these scammers also impersonate well-known people, the problems get worse.
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Username reservations are here, as more people claim theirs, here are answers to the top questions you have ⬇️Q: Are usernames mandatory?A: No, they are optional.Q: What happens if the username I want is not available?A: There are several reasons why you may not be able to…July 1, 2026
WhatsApp saw this coming. When this feature was announced, it was stated that well-known people’s handles would be reserved for those people, including usernames of politicians, VIPs, and other celebrities.
“People are making false claims about reserving popular or well-known usernames,” WhatsApp says. “This is not true, only legitimate account holders can reserve names of well-known public figures.” The same line was repeated by WhatsApp owner Meta when contacted by TechCrunch.
However, it is unclear how many variations of famous names and identities are covered by this block. It seems that with enough imagination, functional alternatives can be found – although, of course, once you start using different spellings, numbers and additional words, username impersonation becomes less convincing.
It’s a challenge that all social platforms face, including Meta-owned Instagram and Facebook. However, with WhatsApp, the connection is more direct and potential scams are more plausible, which may affect the rollout of the feature worldwide.
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