WhatsApp has announced new features aimed at helping users detect and avoid scams on its platform. The update comes alongside the company’s disclosure that it has removed over 6.8 million accounts linked to global scam operations.
The new tools focus on both group and individual chats. For group chats, WhatsApp is introducing a safety overview that appears when someone not in your contact list adds you to an unfamiliar group. This overview provides key details about the group, including whether the person who added you is one of your contacts or if any group members are known to you.
If the group looks familiar, you can preview the chat for more context. Until you choose to stay in the group, notifications from it will remain muted by default.
For private conversations, WhatsApp is testing features that warn users before they start chatting with people who are not in their contacts. The goal is to protect users from scammers who first make contact elsewhere online and then move the conversation to WhatsApp. These alerts will provide additional information to help users assess whether they’re messaging someone potentially suspicious.
WhatsApp also revealed that it worked with OpenAI to disrupt scam networks, including one based in Cambodia. These scams involved fake offers such as payments for likes, pyramid schemes involving scooter rentals, and fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.
According to WhatsApp, scammers used ChatGPT to write convincing messages that included links to WhatsApp chats. Once users joined, they were redirected to Telegram and given tasks like liking TikTok videos. The scammers would then show fake earnings and persuade the victim to deposit money into a crypto account as the “next step.”
To stay safe, WhatsApp advises users to pause and think before responding to unexpected messages. They should consider whether the request is logical or rushed. If someone claims to be a friend or family member, users are encouraged to verify their identity through another communication method.
Found this article interesting? Follow us on X(Twitter) ,Threads and FaceBook to read more exclusive content we post.
