WhatsApp Takes Down 6.8 Million Scam Accounts, Rolls Out New Safety Features

WhatsApp is making it easier to avoid scams with a new set of safety features rolling out across the app. This comes as Meta, the company behind WhatsApp, announced that it has already removed 6.8 million accounts linked to scams in just the first six months of this year. Many of these accounts were tied to organised scam operations, most of which are based in Southeast Asia.

Meta says most of the accounts were banned before they could be used, thanks to more proactive detection systems aimed at stopping scam centres from getting up and running.

One of the new tools focuses on group chats. If someone who’s not in your contacts adds you to a WhatsApp group, you’ll now see a safety overview pop-up. It gives you basic details about the group, tips on staying safe, and options to either leave immediately or view the chat for more context. You won’t get notifications from the group unless you decide to stay.

For one-on-one chats, WhatsApp is also working on alerts for messages from people you don’t know. These alerts will show additional context—like whether the number was recently created or flagged—so you can decide whether or not to respond.

On top of that, Meta is advising users to stay sharp when it comes to messages that seem suspicious. A common scam tactic involves offers that sound too good to be true, especially fake investment deals promising high returns with zero risk. Meta’s advice is simple: pause, question, and verify before replying or clicking on anything.

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