WhatsApp removes 6.8 million scam-linked accounts
WhatsApp dismantled 6.8 million scam-linked accounts in the first half of the year, targeting crime rings in South East Asia and introducing new anti-fraud features.
WhatsApp Takes Down 6.8 Million Scam Accounts
WhatsApp has disabled 6.8 million accounts linked to global scam operations during the first half of the year, the company announced.
Many of these accounts were associated with organized crime groups in South East Asia that reportedly used forced labour in fraud centres, the Meta-owned platform said.
New Anti-Scam Measures
The announcement coincided with the rollout of features designed to flag suspicious activity, such as warnings when a user is added to a group chat by an unknown contact.
Such measures aim to counter tactics where criminals hijack accounts or recruit users into group chats promoting fake investment and other fraud schemes.
Collaborations to Disrupt Fraud
WhatsApp said it proactively detected and removed accounts before they could be used. In one operation, it coordinated with Meta and OpenAI to dismantle a scam ring in Cambodia that used ChatGPT to generate instructions for a bogus rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme.
Scammers typically lure victims via text, then shift to private messaging or social media, requesting payments through bank transfers or cryptocurrency platforms.
WhatsApp warned: "If you are asked to pay upfront for guaranteed returns, that’s a clear warning sign."
Regional Impact and Advice
Fraud centres in Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand are known to target unsuspecting users, often using forced labour to carry out scams that cost victims billions of dollars.
Authorities recommend enabling two-step verification on WhatsApp and remaining vigilant against unusual requests on messaging apps.
WhatsApp’s latest crackdown shows the scale of organised scam operations and highlights the need for robust anti-fraud tools and user vigilance.
This topic was reported by BBC.
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