WhatsApp has announced a major crackdown on scams, banning over 6.8 million accounts in the first half of 2025 as part of a coordinated global effort to combat fraud. The Meta-owned messaging platform also unveiled new safety tools designed to help users better identify and avoid scams in both group and private chats.
The updated features aim to give users more context when interacting with unfamiliar contacts — especially when added to groups by unknown individuals or when messaged by strangers outside their address book.
Key features include:
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Group Safety Overview: Alerts you when someone not in your contacts adds you to a group, displays mutual connections (if any), and provides safety tips.
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Chat Warnings: Prompts that appear when messaging someone outside your contacts, encouraging you to pause and assess.
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Muted Notifications: Users are not notified of messages from suspicious group adds unless they choose to engage.
WhatsApp also highlighted a joint enforcement action with OpenAI, which disrupted a scam network operating from Cambodia. The operation involved scammers using ChatGPT to craft deceptive messages, lure victims onto WhatsApp, and eventually divert them to platforms like Telegram for fraudulent investment schemes, including crypto scams.
Common scam tactics flagged include:
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Fake “earnings” tasks with false profit screenshots
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Pyramid-style rent-a-scooter schemes
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Crypto investment frauds
WhatsApp urged users to verify identities and avoid responding to pressure tactics or urgent money requests. The company says the new safety tools are rolling out gradually, with improvements expected as more data is gathered.
