WhatsApp is introducing new features to help users identify scams on the messaging service, the company announced on Tuesday. The platform has already taken down over 6.8 million accounts linked to criminal scam centers targeting people worldwide.
The new tools aim to detect scams in both group and individual chats. For group chats, WhatsApp is rolling out a safety overview feature. This appears when someone not in your contacts adds you to an unfamiliar group. The overview provides key details about the group, including whether the person who added you is a contact and if any group members are known to you.
If the group seems legitimate, you can view the chat for more context. Until you confirm you want to stay, notifications from the group will remain muted.
For individual chats, WhatsApp is testing alerts to warn users before engaging with potential scammers. The app may display additional context when starting a conversation with an unknown contact, helping users recognize suspicious behavior.
WhatsApp also revealed its collaboration with OpenAI to dismantle a scam operation traced to Cambodia. The scammers used various tactics, such as offering payments for fake likes, promoting a rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme, and luring victims into cryptocurrency investments.
According to WhatsApp, the scammers used ChatGPT to craft initial messages with links to WhatsApp chats before redirecting targets to Telegram. There, victims were assigned tasks like liking TikTok videos to build false trust before being asked to deposit money into a crypto account.
To stay safe, WhatsApp advises users to pause and evaluate messages carefully. Check if the request seems legitimate, whether it makes sense, and if you’re being pressured to act quickly. If someone claims to be a friend or family member, verify their identity through another communication method before responding.