Over 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts linked to scams has been and new in-app features to protect users from fraud has been announced.
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has banned over 6.8 million accounts linked to scam activities as part of efforts to enhance user protection. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg confirmed the crackdown, citing the rise in fraud cases involving hijacked accounts and fake investment group chats.
“In the first six months of this year… WhatsApp detected and banned over 6.8 million accounts linked to scam centres,” Meta said in a statement issued on August 5, 2025. The company noted that many scam operations are based in Southeast Asia.
In addition to the bans, WhatsApp introduced new safety measures. Users added to unknown groups will now see an overview including group details and safety tips, allowing them to exit immediately if suspicious.
WhatsApp is also testing alerts for users messaging contacts outside their list, providing extra context to help avoid fraud. The platform urged users to “pause, question, and verify” before replying to unknown messages.