WhatsApp is rolling out new features to help users identify and avoid scams on its platform. Recently, the company announced that it has removed over 6.8 million accounts linked to scam activities targeting global users.
These enhancements are designed to detect scams in both group and individual chats. For group chats, the messaging service is introducing a safety overview feature. This appears when someone not in your contacts adds you to a new, unfamiliar group. The overview provides key details about the group and offers safety tips. For instance, you’ll see if the person who added you is in your contacts or if any group member is a known contact. If you recognize the group, you can view the chat for context, but notifications will remain muted until you choose to stay in the group.
In terms of individual chats, WhatsApp is addressing a common scam tactic where fraudsters initiate conversations online before moving to private messaging. The app is testing alerts for users when chatting with people outside their contacts, offering more context about who they’re messaging.
Additionally, WhatsApp has collaborated with OpenAI to tackle scams traced to a center in Cambodia. These scams included offering payments for fake social media interactions, rent-a-scooter pyramid schemes, and misleading cryptocurrency investments. Scammers used ChatGPT to craft initial messages, eventually guiding targets to other platforms like Telegram to complete tasks that seemed legitimate.
To protect against scams, WhatsApp advises users to pause before responding. Consider if the request is genuine and if there’s undue pressure to act quickly. If someone claims to be a friend or family member, verify their identity through a different communication method. Stay vigilant to keep your interactions safe and secure.
