WhatsApp Launches New Features to Tackle Scams and Fake Messages

WhatsApp has announced a new wave of safety features aimed at protecting users from increasingly sophisticated scams. The update comes as part of Meta’s broader effort to strengthen user safety amid rising threats of online fraud.

Among the key updates is a safety overview screen for group chats, especially when users are added by someone not in their contact list. This screen will highlight whether the inviter is a known contact and if other group members are familiar, while muting notifications by default until users choose to remain.

In one-on-one messages, WhatsApp is testing new alerts that appear when someone not in your contacts initiates a conversation. These alerts include safety tips and information about the sender to help users pause and assess the risk before replying.

In a major crackdown, WhatsApp collaborated with OpenAI to shut down a Cambodia-based scam network using ChatGPT to generate scam messages. Victims were lured to Telegram with tasks like liking TikTok videos or investing in fake crypto schemes, with fake earnings screenshots used as bait.

WhatsApp urges users to stay vigilant, pause before replying to unknown messages, verify identities, and beware of urgency tactics, which scammers often use to pressure victims.

The company says it continues to invest in AI tools, reporting systems, and global partnerships to ensure a safer messaging environment for its over 2 billion users.