Meta introduced new scam detection features for its messaging apps, WhatsApp and Messenger, on Tuesday. This is part of a broader initiative to crack down on online scams that target older people. The company will now show warnings in WhatsApp when users try to share their screen during calls. It will also flag possible scam messages in Messenger, which can be sent to an AI for review.
The tech giant reported that it detected and disrupted approximately 8 million accounts engaged in scam operations during the first half of 2025. These accounts were associated with scam centers in areas like Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines. Meta also took action on over 21,000 Facebook Pages and accounts that were impersonating customer support operations in an attempt to trick people into sharing their personal information.
This type of impersonation is so common on the platform that many Page operators have learned to ignore anything claiming to be a customer support message. Scam syndicates target older adults across a number of industries, including social media, messaging apps, dating apps, and crypto.
On WhatsApp, the company will now display a warning when you try to share your screen with an unknown contact during a video call. Meta says this technique is often used to trick victims into giving away sensitive information like bank details and verification codes.
On Messenger, the company is testing more advanced scam detection techniques to analyze whether an inbound message is suspicious. If a message is flagged, it will warn you that signs of a scam have been detected and advise you to be cautious as you could be at risk of losing money. The screen will also list a variety of common scam techniques, such as those involving work-from-home jobs or offers to make easy cash, and will suggest either blocking or reporting the suspicious account.
These scams can have impacts that extend beyond the individual being targeted. When a family member falls victim, other family members often have to get involved. This can embarrass the victim or cause them to become more entrenched in believing the scam is a real opportunity.
Scammers often use social engineering techniques or pretend romantic interest to lure in victims who may not be very tech-savvy or who could be suffering from early dementia. They also frequently target people who are lonely and appreciate the attention. Scammers take advantage of these factors to milk seniors out of their life savings.
Some believe Meta should have done more to address these concerns on its platforms sooner, especially since adding a warning or alert to the user experience is relatively simple. Even basic informational alerts could have helped mitigate some of the prior abuse, even without access to more sophisticated AI technologies for reviewing possible scams.
The tech giant also announced it is joining the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center. This is a newer nonprofit that brings law enforcement together with companies like AARP, Amazon, Capital One, Google, Microsoft, and Walmart to combat fraud targeting older adults.