WhatsApp has announced major advancements in its fight against sophisticated messaging scams. These include new in-app safety features and the removal of millions of malicious accounts linked to criminal scam centers.

The company reported that in the first six months of this year, it proactively detected and banned over 6.8 million accounts. These actions were taken before the scam centers could launch their fraudulent campaigns, preventing widespread harm.

Kojo Boakye, Vice President of Public Policy, Africa, Middle East and Türkiye at Meta, stated, “The fight against scams is a relentless one, and we are continually evolving our defenses to stay ahead of bad actors.” He emphasized WhatsApp’s commitment to protecting users by combining account bans with education and advanced safety tools.

Criminal scam centers often operate across platforms, using deceptive methods such as:

• Fake cryptocurrency investment offers
• Pyramid schemes requiring upfront payments

These operations typically begin on dating apps or via text, then move to social platforms like WhatsApp, and finally to crypto or payment platforms.

Recently, WhatsApp, Meta, and OpenAI jointly disrupted a scam network based in Cambodia. The network used ChatGPT to craft scam messages that lured victims to WhatsApp and then transferred them to Telegram. Victims were then coerced into liking TikTok videos and making crypto deposits.

To combat such threats, WhatsApp is introducing new safety tools:

• Group Messaging: Users added to unfamiliar groups will see a safety overview with group info and tips. Notifications are muted unless the user engages.
• Individual Messaging: WhatsApp is testing warnings for chats from unknown contacts, giving users more context to make safer choices.

WhatsApp also promotes a “Pause, Question, Verify” approach:

• Pause before responding to unknown messages.
• Question suspicious requests.
• Verify identities through known contact methods.

WhatsApp reiterated its ongoing commitment to enhancing security and collaborating with industry partners to ensure a safer messaging experience for all users.

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