…WhatsApp revealed that over 6.8 million accounts linked to criminal scam centres were banned in the first half of 2025 alone.
MENLO PARK, UNITED STATES – The iNews Times | WhatsApp has announced a sweeping crackdown on scam-related accounts and unveiled a new suite of safety features designed to protect users from fraud in both group and individual chats.
The Meta-owned messaging platform revealed that over 6.8 million accounts linked to criminal scam centres were banned in the first half of 2025 alone.
The company said the move is part of an ongoing effort to disrupt global fraud networks that prey on unsuspecting users, particularly by infiltrating group chats and initiating unsolicited private messages.
“For group chats,” WhatsApp explained, “a new safety overview will now appear when users are added to unfamiliar groups by someone outside their contacts.” The feature will display whether the person who added them is a known contact, if other group members are familiar, and share tips on staying safe. Notifications from such groups will remain muted by default, allowing users to assess the context before deciding to stay.
This update is aimed at curbing mass additions to potentially malicious groups, where phishing links and scam promotions are often circulated en masse.
In private chats, the platform is also trialling contextual prompts when users receive messages from numbers not saved in their phonebooks. This aims to give people a moment of pause, encouraging them to assess the legitimacy of the contact before engaging.
The rollout coincides with a coordinated enforcement action involving OpenAI, which helped WhatsApp identify and disrupt a scam network operating out of Cambodia.
According to WhatsApp, fraudsters had used OpenAI’s ChatGPT to craft realistic opening messages that would then lure victims onto WhatsApp for continued manipulation – eventually steering them to Telegram or cryptocurrency platforms where the scam was completed.
These scams included fake earning tasks, pyramid-style “rent-a-scooter” offers, and fraudulent investment schemes. Victims were often drawn in with small, believable payouts before being pressured into transferring larger amounts into crypto wallets under false pretences.
“Many of these scams exploit human trust,” the company noted. “They escalate from simple, harmless-looking tasks to serious financial losses.”
WhatsApp has urged users to remain vigilant: “Don’t rush. Question any message that demands quick action, and verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a family member or friend through another channel.”
The company said the new safety tools are being rolled out gradually, with ongoing user feedback helping to refine their design. Adjustments will continue as scam tactics evolve.
WhatsApp reaffirmed its commitment to user protection, saying that contextual cues and proactive bans are critical in maintaining a safe and trustworthy environment for its global community.
