Meta is launching new tools to help protect its WhatsApp and Messenger users from potential scams.
In a new blog post centred around Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the company explained that it has “detected and disrupted” close to eight million accounts associated with scam centres around the world since the start of 2025 alone. As the company notes, these bad actors regularly target people, especially seniors, using messaging, dating apps, social media, crypto and other platforms.
Therefore, Meta will now attempt to warn users of potential scams on some of its platforms. On WhatsApp, the company will bring up a warning message when they’re about to share their screens with someone not on their contact list during video calls. This is because scammers regularly pressure targets to share sensitive information like banking details and verification codes through their screens, often under the guise of bankers, government officials and the like.
For Messenger users, the company has begun testing advanced scam detection. Once enabled, this feature will scan a potential scam message and warn you of it. You’ll then be given the option to send recent chat messages for AI scam review, and should one be detected, you’ll receive more information on common scams and suggested actions to take against the suspicious account, like blocking or reporting it.
The WhatsApp screening feature is now available, while wide rollout timing for Messenger’s advanced scam detection wasn’t confirmed. In the meantime, Meta also advises users to set up Passkeys across its platforms to verify your identity.
Image credit: Meta
Source: Meta
