z1me4.shop is an impersonation phishing page dressed up as WhatsApp, with the browser tab simply reading "WhatsApp". It targets ordinary WhatsApp users, and through them their contacts. PhishDestroy first flagged it on 2026-10-11. As of 2026-10-19 the domain no longer resolves in DNS, so the page is offline for now. The domain itself can still be pointed at a server again.
How the scam works
Fake WhatsApp pages usually copy the look of the official web login or verification screens. They ask the visitor for a phone number and the SMS verification code, or to scan a QR code that quietly links the attacker's device to the victim's account. Once inside, the operator can read chats and impersonate the victim. A common follow-up is messaging friends and family with urgent requests for money or crypto. The victim loses control of the account, and their contacts become the next targets.
Evidence
Five of 92 VirusTotal engines flagged the domain on 2026-10-12: alphaMountain.ai, CRDF, Gridinsoft, OpenPhish and SOCRadar. That count is modest, but it includes a dedicated phishing feed. urlscan.io rated the page malicious and recognised the WhatsApp branding on its own. Spamhaus lists the domain in its DBL as phishing, and it appears in five AlienVault OTX threat pulses alongside the PhishDestroy blocklist.
Infrastructure
The domain was registered on 2026-08-24 through GNAME.COM PTE. LTD. It went live as a phishing page roughly seven weeks before we caught it. That gap suggests the domain was bought ahead of time and held until the campaign was ready. Hosting sat on Tencent's network in Hong Kong at 43.129.237.150. The random-looking name on a cheap .shop extension fits disposable domains that are burned and replaced quickly.
What to do
If you entered a verification code or scanned a QR code on this page, open WhatsApp, go to Linked Devices and log out any session you don't recognise. Then re-verify your number on your own phone and turn on two-step verification with a PIN. Warn your contacts that messages asking for money may not be from you. If you already sent money because of such a message, contact your bank or payment provider. Defenders should block z1me4.shop and the hosting IP. They should also check DNS and proxy logs for visits since 2026-10-11 and remind staff that WhatsApp never asks for codes through a website.
For this gTLD, the registrar above operates under an ICANN accreditation agreement. The links below provide the official fee schedule and current DNS abuse compliance guidance.
Accreditation is a contract, not a safety certification.
RAA §3.18 establishes abuse-contact and handling requirements. This report can document stored outbound notices and later technical observations; it does not by itself establish receipt, investigation, remediation, or contractual non-compliance.
Saved certificate metadata. Certificate dates without a timezone are shown as stored. Transport encryption does not establish that the site is trustworthy.
Primary outcomeDNS 非アクティブreason: DNS NXDOMAIN80% confidence
Attributionsource: Dns Cache
Evidence layersAvailability: DNS inactiveContent: UnreachableDNS: NXDOMAINRegistration: Unknown
Latest HTTP observation不明Probe Inconclusive20%2026-10-19 22:48:15 UTC
RDAP registration不明
Observed timelinecurrent episode first observed: 2026-10-12 20:20:57 UTCfirst terminal observation: 2026-10-12 20:20:57 UTC
Availability, content, DNS and registration are independent evidence layers. NXDOMAIN, an unreachable origin or missing content alone does not prove registrar action. A registrar or provider is credited only when a direct technical marker identifies that actor. Report causality is shown separately.
Keep original emails, receipts, messages and screenshots in a secure place. A factual timeline helps the receiving authority understand what happened. IC3 evidence guidance ↗
Payment records — if you paid, save the receipt, amount, date, payment provider and recipient details.
Your bank or payment provider — contact its fraud team promptly through official contact details if money or card information was exposed.
地元の警察 — たとえ直ちに行動を起こせなくても、公式な記録が残される
A report is not a guarantee of recovery or investigation, but prompt, accurate transaction data can help authorities and service providers trace the incident.
詐欺による金銭の返還を装った詐欺 — fraudsters pose as recovery agents and demand upfront fees. Never share a seed phrase or pay before independently verifying the provider
About this reportSources, observation dates and corrections
This report combines saved page captures, registration and network records, scanner results and PhishDestroy reporting history. Each source keeps its own observation date. Open a source report to inspect the original result.
The AI-assisted analysis was written on . It describes the evidence available at that time; later source checks can change.
A capture documents what was shown. A scanner result records that provider’s assessment at the time of its check. Neither a valid certificate nor a zero-detection result is a guarantee of safety.
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