422/68 Friday, October 24, 2025
Meta has introduced a new set of tools designed to help WhatsApp and Messenger users protect themselves from online scammers and enhance account security. Messenger has begun testing an advanced scam detection system that alerts users when a new contact sends a suspicious message. Users can also choose to submit the most recent message to Meta’s AI-powered analysis system, which evaluates whether the behavior indicates potential fraud. If a risk is detected, the system will issue a warning and recommend actions such as blocking or reporting the account.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp has added a new screen-sharing alert that notifies users when they start sharing their screen with an unknown contact, helping prevent scammers from tricking victims into revealing sensitive information such as one-time passwords (OTPs) or banking details. Additionally, WhatsApp has introduced a “Safety Overview” feature that provides key information about newly created groups that users may be added to without their knowledge—such as the group’s creation date, number of members, and privacy-setting recommendations—to reduce the risk of fraud via group chats.
Meta further revealed that since the beginning of 2025, the company has removed over 8 million accounts linked to scam centers operating in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines, as well as taken down more than 21,000 pages and accounts impersonating customer service representatives to steal personal information. The company has also partnered with OpenAI to dismantle a scam hub in Cambodia tied to crypto investment fraud, pyramid schemes, and fake job scams on social media platforms. These efforts highlight Meta’s ongoing commitment to reducing online scams across its platforms worldwide.
