WhatsApp Has Deactivated 6.8 Million Accounts Connected To Scam Centers According to Meta
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In a major step to combat online fraud, WhatsApp has taken down 6.8 million accounts linked to global scam networks, according to a recent announcement by its parent company Meta. These accounts, removed over the first half of the year, were reportedly part of criminal scam centers targeting users worldwide.
Scams have become increasingly sophisticated in today’s digital world - with fake offers, phishing messages, and impersonation attempts flooding phones and social platforms every day. Meta revealed that many of the most dangerous scams originate from organized crime networks that use forced labor to operate large-scale fraud operations. These networks often move across platforms to avoid detection - starting with text or dating apps and shifting to social media and payment services.
In response, WhatsApp is rolling out new safety features to help users stay one step ahead. One of the key updates includes a new safety alert that appears when someone who’s not in your contacts adds you to a group. The app is also testing a feature that encourages users to pause before responding to potentially suspicious messages - a small prompt that could make a big difference.
Meta also detailed how scammers are evolving, using platforms like TikTok, Telegram, and AI tools such as ChatGPT to push their schemes. These include fake job offers, pyramid recruitment traps, and fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. In one instance, Meta traced a widespread scam campaign to a criminal center in Cambodia and worked with OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, to shut it down.
With scams becoming more frequent and convincing, Meta is intensifying efforts across all its platforms - including Facebook and Instagram - to fight back. The company says it’s committed to building better tools, disrupting scam networks, and helping people recognize the warning signs before it’s too late.
Scams have become increasingly sophisticated in today’s digital world - with fake offers, phishing messages, and impersonation attempts flooding phones and social platforms every day. Meta revealed that many of the most dangerous scams originate from organized crime networks that use forced labor to operate large-scale fraud operations. These networks often move across platforms to avoid detection - starting with text or dating apps and shifting to social media and payment services.
In response, WhatsApp is rolling out new safety features to help users stay one step ahead. One of the key updates includes a new safety alert that appears when someone who’s not in your contacts adds you to a group. The app is also testing a feature that encourages users to pause before responding to potentially suspicious messages - a small prompt that could make a big difference.
Meta also detailed how scammers are evolving, using platforms like TikTok, Telegram, and AI tools such as ChatGPT to push their schemes. These include fake job offers, pyramid recruitment traps, and fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. In one instance, Meta traced a widespread scam campaign to a criminal center in Cambodia and worked with OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, to shut it down.
With scams becoming more frequent and convincing, Meta is intensifying efforts across all its platforms - including Facebook and Instagram - to fight back. The company says it’s committed to building better tools, disrupting scam networks, and helping people recognize the warning signs before it’s too late.
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