This fake BDA discount message on WhatsApp is fooling people. Here how I spotted it.
I receive a WhatsApp message on January 22, 2026 that nearly caught me off guard, & I want to share what I found before anyone else falls for it.
The message came from an account called BDA marked as a Business account with a green verification checkmark. It even displayed the notice “This business uses a secure service from Meta to manage this chat. Tap to learn more.” which made it appear legitimate.
The message said “Hi! Here’s a little something specially for you Use code bda 176 to get 17% off your entire purchase today only till 11:59.”
The message included two buttons – Copy code and Start shopping which link to https://bda.org.uk/basket/
The offer was set to expire today on January 22, 2026 at 11:59.
I almost clicked. Then I looked closer.
The Coupon Code Has a Space in It
The first red flag I noticed was the coupon code “bda 176” which contains a space between “bda” and “176”. This is a major problem. Legitimate coupon codes are always written as one continuous string without spaces – like “bda176” or “BDA176”. No real e-commerce system accepts coupon codes with spaces. If you try to copy and paste “bda 176” into a checkout field, it will either fail or the space will cause errors. This mistake reveals the message was poorly crafted by scammers.
The Discount Percentage Is Unusual
The offer promises 17% off which is a strange and uncommon discount amount. Real businesses use round numbers for promotions – 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, or 30%. When was the last time you saw a legitimate store offer exactly 17% off. This odd number suggests the discount was randomly generated to sound specific and believable, but it actually exposes the scam.
The Verification Checkmark Can Be Fake
The account shows a green verification checkmark and “Business account” label. Scammers can mimic these visual elements or create fake business accounts. A checkmark alone does not guarantee legitimacy – always verify through official channels.
The Meta Security Notice Is Misleading
The message displays “This business uses a secure service from Meta to manage this chat.” This notice appears automatically on all WhatsApp Business accounts. It only means the account is using business features it does not verify the business or offer is real.
I Investigated Further
I visited https://bda.org.uk/basket/ and tried the bda 176 code. It is not a verified coupon. Scammers are using the BDA name to trick people.
This message coupon is a scam.
Why WhatsApp Business Scams Are Dangerous
What makes WhatsApp Business scams so effective is that they exploit a trust platform used by billions. When confronted with a verified business account and official look notices from Meta, people naturally lower their defenses. Fraudsters take advantage of this trust to deceive users into handing over personal information, payment details and login credential. Buttons labelled “Copy code” and “Start shopping” make it all too easy to click without a second thought.
How to Protect Yourself
- Do not click the “Start shopping” button in this message. It may lead to a phish website design to steal your information.
- Do not copy the bda 176 code. Even copying the code confirms to scammers that you engaged with their message.
- Do not enter any personal information, payment details, or password on websites link from unsolicited WhatsApp messages.
- Do verify any offers by visiting official websites directly. Type the website address manually in your browser instead of clicking links.
- Do check if the business actually sells product.
- Do report the WhatsApp account by tapping the three dots menu and select “Report.”
- Do block the sender immediately after reporting.
- Do warn your contacts about this scam, especially if they might be targeted.
“I spotted the warning signs. I hope you do too.”
