A national fraud prevention body has issued a warning about a scam that steals access to a Whatsapp user's account.

Action Fraud has reported it has received over 60 alerts relating to the scam which gains access to another WhatsApp account which has you listed as a contact.

The scammer, posing as your friend or someone that’s a member of a WhatsApp group you’re in, will send a seemingly normal message to try and start a conversation with you.

Around the same time, a text message from WhatsApp with a six-digit code will arrive.

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This is because the criminal has been trying to log in to WhatsApp using your mobile number.

The scammer will claim that they sent you their code by accident and ask you to help them by sending it to them.

Once the criminal has this code, they can log in to your WhatsApp account and lock you out.

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The criminal will then use the same tactic with your WhatsApp contacts in an effort to steal more accounts and use them to perpetrate fraud.

Phone users are advised to set up two-step verification to provide an extra layer of protection as well as contact a family member or friend if you suspect fraudulent activity on their account.