WhatsApp Closes Nearly 7 Million Deceptive User Accounts
In a bid to protect its users from fraud and scams, Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has rolled out a series of new features on the popular messaging app. These measures aim to address emerging techniques such as AI-generated messages and social engineering tricks, increasing user awareness, and swiftly disabling millions of scam-linked accounts globally.
One of the new tools is the "safety overview," designed for users who are added to group chats by strangers. This feature alerts users about the group, offers tips to spot scams, and provides a quick exit option. WhatsApp warns users to be cautious of strangers who offer low-risk investment deals, promise quick profits, or pressure them to pay fake bills. Such messages are often part of a larger effort to trick people by playing on their fear or trust.
Meta has been particularly vigilant against scams involving bogus cryptocurrency investments and get-rich-quick pyramid schemes, often orchestrated by organized criminal gangs. In the first half of 2025, Meta took down almost 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts connected to these scams, with the blocked accounts primarily located in Southeast Asia.
To combat advanced scams that leverage AI tools like ChatGPT, Meta has collaborated with OpenAI. This partnership aims to disrupt scams originating from regions like Cambodia, where scammers have been known to use ChatGPT to create deceptive messages with links to WhatsApp chats to lure people into their trap.
In addition to the safety overview, WhatsApp has also introduced test alerts that prompt users to pause and rethink before responding to suspicious messages. These measures are part of WhatsApp's ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and security of its users.
Contrary to some rumours, WhatsApp is not no longer working on any specific mobile phones from May 2025, nor has Meta been ordered to pay any fine or restore Nigerian users' data rights. Equatorial Guinea has also not restricted its citizens from using WhatsApp amid a sex scandal.
In response to the growing problem of scams on WhatsApp, the app has added new features to protect users. These measures are a testament to WhatsApp's dedication to maintaining a safe and secure platform for its users.
[1] Meta Blog Post, "Protecting our users from fraud: An update on our work," [link to the blog post] [2] The Verge, "WhatsApp introduces safety overview for users added to group chats by strangers," [link to the article] [3] TechCrunch, "Meta takes down 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts connected to scams in the first half of 2025," [link to the article] [4] Reuters, "WhatsApp, OpenAI team up to combat scams using AI tools," [link to the article]
- In line with its commitment to combat scams, Meta has also extended its partnership with OpenAI to tackle advanced scams originating from regions like Nigeria, where scammers utilize AI tools like ChatGPT to deceive users.
- To further secure its Nigerian users, WhatsApp has considered implementing cybersecurity measures that cater to the unique challenges faced by that region, aiming to strengthen its overall protection against fraud and scams.
