WhatsApp has blocked more than 6.8 million accounts linked to organised scam operations and is introducing new features to help users spot fraud before it’s too late.
The Meta-owned platform said the initiative is part of an aggressive watch on criminal networks that exploit messaging apps to steal money from unsuspecting people worldwide.
The company revealed that many of these accounts were tied to scam centres, usually operating out of Southeast Asia and in some cases fuelled by forced labour.
These centres run multiple schemes at once, cryptocurrency investment traps, pyramid recruitment, fake payment offers, often moving victims from one app to another to avoid detection.
One recent case exposed by WhatsApp and its partners traced a web of fraudulent activity back to a criminal hub in Cambodia. “These attempts ranged from offering payments for fake likes to enlisting others into a rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme, or luring people to invest in cryptocurrency,” the company explained.
According to OpenAI, which also worked on the operation, scammers used ChatGPT to draft the first message containing a link to a WhatsApp chat, then shifted targets to Telegram and tasked them with liking TikTok videos.
Victims were shown fabricated ‘earnings’ before being told to deposit money into a cryptocurrency account.
To counter such tactics, WhatsApp is introducing tools that alert users in both group and one-to-one chats. In groups, a new “safety overview” will now appear when someone who is not in your contacts adds you to an unfamiliar group.
This overview displays details about the group and practical safety tips, while muting notifications until you decide whether to remain.
For private chats, WhatsApp is trialling warnings that pop up when you start messaging someone who isn’t in your contacts. The alert will provide more context about the other party, giving you time to reconsider before engaging.
The company also shared safety advice to help people pause before falling into a scammer’s trap:
- Pause: Take a moment before responding to any unexpected message.
- Question: Does the request make sense? Is the offer too good to be true? Are you being pushed to act fast?
- Verify: If someone claims to be a friend or relative, confirm their identity using another communication channel.
Meta’s teams say scammers thrive on trust, fear, and urgency, and understanding that is the first step to protecting yourself. “We encourage you to pause, question, and verify, before responding to a suspicious or unusual message, especially if it’s from a number you don’t know promising fast money,” the company stated.
With the new measures, WhatsApp hopes to slow the spread of scams before they spiral, but warns that vigilance from users is highly essential.
