WhatsApp, owned by Meta has removed 6.8 million accounts linked to global scams during the first half of this year. Many of these accounts were connected to organized criminal scam centers in Southeast Asia, where forced labor is often used.
The takedown comes alongside WhatsApp’s introduction of new anti-scam features that notify users if someone not in their contacts adds them to a group chat. This targets a rising trend where fraudsters hijack accounts or add users to groups promoting fake investment schemes and other cons.
Meta stated that WhatsApp was able to proactively identify and shut down accounts before scammers could fully exploit them. In one notable case, WhatsApp, Meta, and OpenAI collaborated to disrupt a Cambodian scam group behind a fraudulent rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme, where ChatGPT had been used to draft messages sent to potential victims.
Typically, scammers first approach victims via text before transitioning to private messaging apps or social media, eventually directing them to complete transactions on payment or cryptocurrency platforms. Meta warned that any scheme requiring an upfront payment in exchange for returns should be treated with suspicion.
While UK consumer watchdog Which? welcomed Meta’s efforts, it emphasized that more must be done to stop scams across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Consumer law expert Lisa Webb echoed this, pointing out that users are still bombarded with fake ads for investments, products, and job offers. She called on Meta to prevent such content from appearing in the first place.
Webb also urged Ofcom to enforce the Online Safety Act and set strict guidelines around paid fraudulent ads, holding tech companies accountable for the content on their platforms.
Scam centers continue to thrive in countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand, often forcing people to carry out these fraudulent schemes. Authorities in the region have advised the public to stay alert and activate protective features like WhatsApp’s two-step verification. In Singapore, police have also warned users to treat unusual messages with caution.
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