WhatsApp combats scams: Over 6.8 million accounts deactivated
WhatsApp announced significant advancements in its ongoing fight against sophisticated messaging scams, including taking down millions of accounts linked to criminal scam centers and the rollout of new in-app safety features designed to protect users globally.
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In the first half of 2025, WhatsApp reported that it identified and disabled more than 6.8 million accounts linked to criminal scam activities, helping to protect many users from potential harm.
"The fight against scams is a relentless one, and we are continually evolving our defenses to stay ahead of bad actors," said Kojo Boakye, vice president of Public Policy for Africa, the Middle East and Türkiye at Meta.
"This is part of our unwavering commitment to protect our users, not just by banning malicious accounts, but by empowering individuals with the tools and knowledge they need to recognise and avoid these sophisticated threats. We believe that a safer messaging environment is built through a combination of robust technology, proactive detection, and user education."
Understanding how criminals operate is essential for user awareness, WhatsApp said.
A common tactic involves asking for upfront payments to secure promised returns.
Such scams often morph across various platforms, beginning on dating apps and text messages before transitioning to private messaging applications like WhatsApp and ultimately leading users to payment or cryptocurrency channels.
This coordinated approach is designed to evade detection by individual services, complicating efforts for comprehensive intervention.
In a striking example of cross-industry collaboration, WhatsApp, Meta, and OpenAI recently dismantled a scam operation connected to a criminal organisation in Cambodia.
This particular network exploited ChatGPT to craft messages luring targets to WhatsApp, then swiftly transitioning them to Telegram, where victims were coerced into liking TikTok videos as a precursor to depositing money into cryptocurrency accounts.
To fortify its preventative measures, WhatsApp is introducing new in-app safety features aimed at curtailing known scam tactics:
- Group Messaging: Users will now receive a safety overview when added to an unfamiliar group chat by someone not in their contacts, presenting key group information and safety tips. Users will have the option to exit the group without reviewing the chat, and notifications will be muted until they choose to engage.
- Individual Messaging: WhatsApp is testing new protocols to alert users when communicating with unknown contacts. This feature includes providing context about the sender, enabling users to make informed decisions before initiating conversations.
WhatsApp also advocates for a proactive approach to avoid scams in private messaging. Users are encouraged to adopt a "Pause, Question, Verify" method when confronted with suspicious messages.
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