Meta has introduced new safety features to protect WhatsApp users from online scams. As scams continue to grow across messaging platforms, this update aims to make it harder for scammers to reach people and trick them into giving away personal information.
One of the key updates focuses on WhatsApp group invites. Now, when someone who is not in your contact list adds you to a group, WhatsApp will show you a safety overview. This includes information about the group and tips to help you stay safe. If you feel uncomfortable, you can leave the group immediately without even opening the chat. WhatsApp will also silence all notifications from that group unless you decide to stay. This gives users more control and reduces the risk of falling into scam traps.
In addition to group safety, WhatsApp is also testing alerts for one-on-one chat requests from unknown numbers. When someone outside your contacts tries to message you, WhatsApp may show extra details about that person. This helps users decide whether the message is from a real person or a possible scammer. These alerts add a bit of friction, which can slow scammers down and give users time to think before responding.
Meta has also shared more about the bigger problem behind these scams. According to the company, many scams are run by organized crime groups using forced labor. These groups run scam centers and use large numbers of people to send fake messages. To fight this, Meta says it blocked over 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts in the first half of 2025 before scammers could fully use them. This shows how serious Meta is about protecting its users.
Online scams are a rising problem worldwide. A recent study from Pew Research found that 73% of U.S. adults have faced some form of online scam, like credit card fraud or fake shopping sites. The FBI’s Internet Crime Report for 2024 also reported that scammers stole over $16.6 billion from Americans in that year alone. These numbers highlight the growing need for strong online protections.
As more people use the internet for daily activities, scammers will continue to look for new ways to take advantage of users. Meta’s new WhatsApp safety tools are one way to fight back. While there is no perfect solution, updating scam detection methods and warning users early are steps in the right direction.
With these new alerts, WhatsApp hopes to give people better tools to stay safe, trust the platform, and avoid falling for online scams.
As efforts are implemented to make social media platforms like WhatsApp free from scammers, legitimate entities like Thumzup Media Corp. (NASDAQ: TZUP) could have more room to work with businesses seeking to reach their target audiences on social media.
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