Changpeng Zhao failed to reserve his preferred username during WhatsApp’s global rollout this week. The mishap shows how easily scammers could exploit recognizable names as the app drops phone numbers as its main identifier.

CZ, Binance’s former chief executive, ranks among crypto’s most recognized public figures. His failed claim illustrates a broader risk facing WhatsApp’s new system.

WhatsApp’s Username Debut Draws Scam Warnings

WhatsApp began letting users reserve custom usernames this week, replacing phone numbers as the main way to connect.

WhatsApp said creators, small businesses, and organizations can claim their existing Instagram or Facebook username on the app. An optional username key adds protection, but WhatsApp’s first-come first-served rollout means unclaimed handles remain open to whoever registers first.

WhatsApp also plans to rate-limit new contacts and block repeated attempts to guess a username’s key. The measures target the exact abuse patterns Telegram struggled to contain.

Scammers can also exploit lookalike characters, swapping a capital I for a lowercase l. The trick is nearly impossible to spot without comparing handles side by side.

WhatsApp Users Chase Premium Usernames for Future Profit

A growing number of users are trying to reserve sought-after WhatsApp usernames early. The behavior mirrors the hype already seen on Telegram, where early adopters fetched seven-figure sums for prominent handles.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov said in July 2025 that an early “@crypto” handle drew a $25 million offer. 2025 data shows “@news” sold for $5.8 million. Some users now hope that famous brands, celebrities, and crypto terms reserved early on WhatsApp could carry similar value.

WhatsApp usernames are free to reserve directly in the app. Meta has not built a marketplace for buying or selling them. That gap, unlike Telegram’s tokenized Fragment platform, could limit how much resale value ever materializes.

What Users Can Do to Protect Themselves

CZ’s experience highlights what is at stake as impersonation scams change. One recent impersonation-based staking scam already resulted in a criminal sentence, showing regulators are paying attention.

Security researchers recommend enabling WhatsApp’s optional username key manually, since Meta leaves it off by default. Without it, anyone who learns a username can message that person on the first attempt.

Enabling the key requires a four-digit code before a stranger can reach out. Experts also recommend watching for lookalike characters, since a reserved username alone does not confirm authenticity.

The safest approach is to confirm any high-profile contact through its official, verified account before trusting a message.

What Happens Next for WhatsApp Users

Crypto users already face elevated fraud risks this year. June’s hack losses show attackers continue to target both platforms and individuals. This impersonation risk echoes a broader industry debate, including the long-running quantum risk debate over emerging threats to digital trust.

WhatsApp’s wider username rollout is still weeks away, giving Meta time to add safeguards. Whether those measures arrive before scammers adapt remains the key question for the platform’s three billion users.

Source: BeInCrypto