Meta Bolsters Anti-Scam Measures on WhatsApp and Messenger

Is That a Scam? Messenger Will Let You Ask Meta AI to Review Sketchy Requests

Jibin is a tech news writer based in Ahmedabad, India, who loves breaking down complex information for a broader audience. Don't miss out on our latest stories. Add PCMag as a preferred source on Google. Social media scams are rampant. The FBI reported losses exceeding $16.6 billion in the US last year, with those over 60 being the hardest hit. To combat the threat, Meta is introducing new anti-scam tools: screen-share warnings on WhatsApp and AI-powered scan detection in Messenger. Now, when a user tries sharing their screen with unknown contacts, WhatsApp will display a warning to remind them that their screen, which may contain banking details or verification codes, is viewable by the other person. The feature comes after Meta found that scammers "may pressure their targets to share their screen" to obtain sensitive information. The scam detection tool for Messenger, on the other hand, is currently being tested. When enabled, the feature uses on-device technology to determine if you have received a potentially spammy message and asks you to send the chat for an AI review. If the chat turns out to be a potential scam, Meta will provide further information on common scams and suggest blocking or reporting the user. However, there's a major caveat here. During the first stage, where the tool uses on-device technology to send the alert, your messages remain end-to-end encrypted. But in the second phase, where you send the messages for AI review, they won't be. When available, you can enable or disable the feature from Messenger Settings > Privacy & Safety Settings> Scam Detection. Meta, meanwhile, has decided to discontinue the Messenger app for Windows and macOS, effective Dec. 15.

Meta Rolls Out New Tools to Protect WhatsApp and Messenger Users from Scams

Meta on Tuesday said it's launching new tools to protect Messenger and WhatsApp users from potential scams. To that end, the company said it's introducing new warnings on WhatsApp when users attempt to share their screen with an unknown contact during a video call so as to prevent them from giving away sensitive information like bank details or verification codes. On Messenger, users can opt to enable a setting called "Scam detection" by navigating to Privacy & safety settings. Once it's turned on, users are alerted when they receive a potentially suspicious message from an unknown connection that may contain signs of a scam. "Because detection happens on your device, chats with end-to-end encryption stay secure," Meta said in a support document. "If you're notified that a chat may contain signs of a scam, we'll ask if you'd like to send recent messages you received to AI review. Messages that are shared with AI are no longer end-to-end encrypted." If the review finds that it's indeed a possible scam, users are given more information about common scams, such as job offers in exchange for money, opportunities promising fast cash, and work-from-home offers for jobs that can't possibly be done remotely. Users are also provided options to block or report the account in question. As part of its ongoing efforts to combat scams, the social media giant said it took action on over 21,000 Facebook Pages and accounts masquerading as customer support in an attempt to trick people into sharing their personal information. In addition, Meta said it detected and disrupted close to 8 million accounts on Facebook and Instagram since the start of the year that are associated with criminal scam centers targeting people, including the elderly, across the world through messaging, dating apps, social media, crypto, and other apps. The scam compounds operated out of Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines. These schemes, often called romance baiting (aka pig butchering), are run by cybercrime syndicates based out of Southeast Asia and refer to a type of investment fraud where criminals entice victims into depositing ever-larger sums into bogus platforms with promises of bigger returns. In many of the cases, the scammers - who are themselves trafficked into the region with lures of high-paying jobs and held against their will - initiate contact with victims through dating apps, social media platforms, or private messaging services like WhatsApp. Once they establish rapport, the operation moves to the next phase, with the threat actors steering victims toward supposed investment opportunities, often tied to cryptocurrencies, and deceiving them into depositing their funds and ultimately disappearing without a trace. "Central to the scam is psychological manipulation: perpetrators cultivate emotional bonds, instill confidence, and in some cases even simulate romantic relationships," Infoblox noted in an analysis published earlier this month. "This drawn-out grooming process lowers victims' defenses and primes them to believe in promises of extraordinary returns, leading to devastating financial losses."

Meta will warn WhatsApp and Messenger users against scams

Meta is launching new tools aimed at trying to protect Messenger and WhatsApp users from potential scams. The company says its teams have "detected and disrupted" nearly 8 million accounts associated with scam centers in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines since the beginning of 2025. It has also taken action on over 21,000 Pages on Facebook pretending to be customer support services of legitimate companies. But much still needs to be done to squash scams, specifically those targeting the elderly who may not be as tech-savvy or may not be aware of the scammers' latest schemes. On WhatsApp, the company will start showing users warning notices if they attempt to share their screen with someone not on their contacts list during a video call. Scammers sometimes get their targets to share their screens in order to steal sensitive information. In the warning window pictured below, Meta tells users outright to only share their screens with people they trust, since they will be able to see anything displayed on their phones, including their banking info. The company is also testing advanced scam detection tools in Messenger chats for mobile. When a user receives a potentially scammy message, a warning notice will pop up, telling them the message is suspicious and that they can forward it to Meta for an AI review. If Meta AI detects a potential scam, it will show the user a list of common scam signs, such as job offers in exchange for money, job offers promising fast cash and work from home offers for jobs that can't possibly be done remotely. It also reminds users not to wire transfer money or send gift cards, which are very common methods scammers use to steal money from their victims. At the bottom of the page, users will have the option to report and block the account that sent them the message. Meta didn't say when the new Messenger warning tool will roll out widely. For now, it's encouraging users to set up passkeys for quick identity verification and to run Security Checkup to review their security settings and get recommendations, including updating their passwords.

WhatsApp and Messenger Will Watch Your Chat for Scams

Meta has announced the release of new, proactive anti-scam tools for WhatsApp and Messenger. These will be warnings and advanced scam detection that is specifically designed to protect particularly older adults, who tend to be frequently targeted. The biggest update for WhatsApp is a new warning that will pop up if you try to share your screen during a video call with a contact you don't know. This is a super helpful change because scammers have been using the screen-sharing feature to trick people, especially seniors, into giving away sensitive stuff like bank details or verification codes. The warning gives you more context so you can spot and avoid the scam before it's too late. On the Messenger side of things, Meta is testing more advanced scam detection right inside your chats. If a new contact sends you a message that looks potentially scammy, a warning notice will show up. You'll then get the option to send recent chat messages to Meta for an AI review. If their AI spots a potential scam, you'll get details on common scam signs and suggestions on what to do next, like blocking or reporting the suspicious account. The chat will also remind you not to send gift cards or wire transfer money, which are super common ways scammers steal cash from victims. While Meta hasn't given a timeline for the Messenger rollout, the feature is meant to help prevent a lot of headaches down the road. Obviously, these scams are not limited to Messenger and WhatsApp. Criminals are operating across the board, using messaging apps, social media, dating apps, and even crypto to target people. However, Meta has stated that in the first half of 2025 alone, their expert teams have detected and disrupted about 8 million accounts associated with scam centers operating out of places like Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines. Meta has also gone after over 21,000 Pages and accounts that were pretending to be legitimate customer support services. A common issue is getting added to chat groups in Messenger and WhatsApp, which is how scammers share your number with other groups or people. Always leave those as soon as you can and change your settings to avoid it, but at that point, you're likely going to get a scam message eventually. In addition to these new warnings, Meta is encouraging users to set up Passkeys, which let you sign in more safely using the same face, fingerprint, or PIN you use on your mobile device. Meta also has Security Checkup on Facebook and Instagram, and Privacy Checkup on WhatsApp to help you review your settings and get recommendations on making your account more secure. For instance, the WhatsApp Privacy Checkup guides you through important privacy settings, like choosing who can add you to groups. Scammers are constantly getting braver with their tactics, sometimes even impersonating Meta or Google to offer fraudulent money recovery services. Some are a lot better than you'd think, so it may be better to have Meta check any messages from people you don't know. Source: Meta