Meta Unveils New Anti-Scam Tools for WhatsApp and Messenger to Combat Rising Social Media Fraud

Meta's New Anti-Scam Initiative

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has announced the rollout of new anti-scam tools for its messaging platforms, WhatsApp and Messenger. This move comes in response to the alarming rise in social media scams, with the FBI reporting losses exceeding $16.6 billion in the US last year, particularly affecting those over 60 1

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Source: BleepingComputer

WhatsApp's Screen-Sharing Warning

On WhatsApp, Meta is introducing a new warning system that alerts users when they attempt to share their screen during a video call with an unknown contact. This feature aims to prevent users from inadvertently sharing sensitive information such as bank details or verification codes 2

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Source: How-To Geek

Messenger's AI-Powered Scam Detection

For Messenger, Meta is testing an advanced scam detection tool that uses on-device technology to identify potentially suspicious messages from new contacts. Users will have the option to send recent messages for an AI review to check for signs of a scam 3

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How the Scam Detection Works

When enabled, the Messenger scam detection feature will alert users to suspicious messages and provide options to block or report the sender. If a user opts for an AI review, they'll receive information about common scam tactics and suggested actions. It's important to note that while the initial detection happens on the device, maintaining end-to-end encryption, messages sent for AI review will not be encrypted 4

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Source: Hacker News

Meta's Broader Anti-Scam Efforts

Meta's anti-scam initiative extends beyond these new tools. The company reports that since the beginning of 2025, it has detected and disrupted nearly 8 million accounts associated with scam centers in various countries, including Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the UAE, and the Philippines 5

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The Scale of the Problem

The introduction of these tools highlights the growing sophistication of social media scams. Criminals are operating across multiple platforms, using messaging apps, social media, dating apps, and even cryptocurrency to target victims. Meta has also taken action against over 21,000 Facebook Pages and accounts impersonating customer support services to trick users into sharing personal information 2

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Additional Security Measures

In addition to these new features, Meta encourages users to set up Passkeys for safer sign-ins and to use Security Checkup on Facebook and Instagram, as well as Privacy Checkup on WhatsApp, to review and enhance their account security settings 5

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