WhatsApp introduces new safety tools, shuts down accounts linked to scammers

WhatsApp has announced new measures to combat the rising tide of sophisticated messaging scams.

The platform revealed that it has shut down millions of accounts linked to criminal scam centres and is introducing fresh in-app safety features designed to enhance user security worldwide.

In a statement issued to journalists on Thursday in Abuja by the Vice President of Public Policy for Africa, the Middle East, and Türkiye at Meta, Kojo Boakye highlighted the company’s dedication to fighting fraud in an increasingly complex threat landscape.

“During the first half of this year alone, we proactively detected and banned over 6.8 million accounts connected to criminal scam operations,” Boakye stated. “By acting early, we prevented many scams from reaching users and causing harm.”

Boakye emphasised WhatsApp’s evolving approach to scam prevention, combining advanced technology, proactive detection, and user education to stay ahead of malicious actors.

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He said, “Criminal scam centres run multiple simultaneous campaigns, often involving deceptive cryptocurrency investments or pyramid schemes. These scams frequently demand upfront payments, promising high returns.

“Scammers typically operate across platforms, starting from dating apps or text messages, moving through social media and private messaging apps like WhatsApp, and culminating in payment or crypto platforms. This multi-layered strategy makes detection and disruption more difficult.”

He cited a notable example of cross-industry collaboration, where WhatsApp, Meta, and OpenAI jointly dismantled a scam ring based in Cambodia.

He stated that the operation utilised ChatGPT to generate initial scam messages, directing victims to WhatsApp before redirecting them to Telegram and ultimately coercing them to invest in cryptocurrency schemes.

To further empower users, WhatsApp is rolling out several new anti-scam tools: “Group Messaging Safety: Users added to unfamiliar groups by unknown contacts will see a safety overview before entering. They can exit groups without viewing chats, and notifications from such groups are muted by default.

“Individual Messaging Cautions: WhatsApp is testing features to provide more context about unknown senders before users initiate chats, helping people make informed decisions about engaging.

WhatsApp urges users to follow a “Pause, Question, Verify” approach when confronted with suspicious messages: “PAUSE: Take a moment before responding. Consider if you recognise the sender or if the message seems legitimate.

“QUESTION: Ask if the request makes sense, especially if it involves money, gift cards, or urgent actions. If it feels too good to be true, it probably is.

“VERIFY: Confirm the sender’s identity through another method if they claim to be someone you know.”

With these initiatives, WhatsApp continues its commitment to creating a safer messaging environment worldwide by combining cutting-edge technology, collaboration, and user empowerment.