WhatsApp is rolling out enhanced security features to help users recognize and combat scams in both personal and group chats. These measures are part of Meta’s broader initiative in collaboration with OpenAI and other partners. According to the company, 6.8 million accounts linked to fraudulent operations were blocked in the first half of 2025 alone.
As Meta reports, many of the banned scam accounts were linked to large, organized cybercrime networks operating primarily in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. These operations are sometimes fed by forced labor, with participants initially misled about the nature and terms of the job and then threatened once they begin working.
Such organizations typically run multiple types of scams simultaneously, and their activities extend far beyond WhatsApp. Criminals often layer their schemes by using Telegram and TikTok accounts, direct SMS campaigns, and AI-generated messages and content created with tools like ChatGPT.
A common tactic on WhatsApp involves adding users to group chats that appear to be about investing or trading cryptocurrency, and then “recommended” them scam products that require upfront payment.
WhatsApp updates include:
- Safety Overview for Groups. When a user is added to a new group chat, they will now see details such as the group’s creation date, the contact who invited them, and the number of participants. If the group looks suspicious, they can leave before any messages are loaded.
- Warnings for Unknown Contacts. The system prompts users to “pause and think” before starting a conversation with someone not in their contacts.
Both features empower users to assess risks on their own and exit a conversation instantly if necessary.
To help users recognize a scam, WhatsApp recommends three simple steps:
- Pause: Consider whether you know the sender and whether their request makes sense.
- Question: Ask yourself if the offer seems too good to be true or overly urgent.
- Verify: Confirm the information through another channel for example, by calling a trusted friend directly.
As scammers increasingly leverage artificial intelligence and combine multiple platforms in their schemes, WhatsApp is focusing on proactive security measures. The new tools are designed to help users stay vigilant and avoid financial losses before a scam can succeed.
