If it feels like suspicious job offers and dodgy WhatsApp messages have been popping up more than usual, you’re definitely not imagining it.
According to the Office of National Statistics, a staggering 4.2 million fraud incidents were reported in the UK between March 2024 and March 2024. That works out to around 81,000 scams every single week. To help tackle this growing problem, Meta has introduced two new security features designed to help you spot and stop scams before they catch you out.
Criminal groups have been targeting WhatsApp users with increasingly sophisticated tricks, from fake job ads to cryptocurrency cons. These new tools are all about protecting you when strangers try to get in touch, whether through a group chat or a direct message.
Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, has also been working on other big projects, including virtual reality platforms for the “metaverse” using its Meta Quest headsets. The company rebranded from Facebook Inc. in 2021 to reflect those bigger ambitions beyond social media.
How Meta’s New WhatsApp Safety Features Work
Meta says its goal is to give you more information and control when unfamiliar numbers reach out, so you can decide whether it’s safe to engage.
1. Safer Group Chat Invites
If someone you don’t know adds you to a WhatsApp group, you’ll now see a safety overview before you even enter the chat. This will show important details about the group and offer safety tips to help you decide whether to join in.
You can choose to leave right away without seeing any messages if something feels off. If you do recognise the group after checking the info, you can go ahead and enter to see the conversation for more context.
Notifications from these groups will be muted automatically until you confirm you want to stay. This means no flood of unwanted messages while you figure out if the group is legitimate.
2. Warnings in 1-on-1 Chats
Meta is also working on alerts for messages from strangers who first contacted you on other platforms. These warnings will pop up when you start chatting with someone not saved in your contacts, giving you extra background on the sender.
This added context can help you decide whether to reply or block the contact.
Meta’s Tips for Staying Safe
Meta recommends a simple three-step check before engaging with unknown contacts:
・Pause before replying
・Question whether the request seems genuine
・Verify the person’s identity through alternative means, such as a callback from a different verified number
For example, if someone messages you on WhatsApp, try calling their known phone number instead.
How These Scams Work
Large criminal networks use fleets of mobile phones to send out hundreds of thousands of scam messages every day. Recently, Meta shut down an operation in Cambodia that relied on several tricks to target victims.
Scammers used ChatGPT to write initial WhatsApp messages with links, then directed people to Telegram. Once there, victims were given “tasks” such as liking TikTok videos. After showing fake earnings to gain trust, the scammers then asked for deposits into fraudulent cryptocurrency accounts.
These scams included everything from paying for fake social media engagement to pyramid schemes involving scooter rentals. Meta’s security teams are constantly tracking, identifying, and shutting down these fraud rings to protect WhatsApp users.
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