WhatsApp said on Tuesday that it is adding new features to assist users identify scams on the messaging app. Additionally, the business reported that it had removed more than 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts connected to criminal scammers that prey on victims worldwide.
The new capabilities on the Meta-owned site are intended to assist in identifying scams in both group and individual discussions.
When someone who isn’t on your contact list joins you to a new group that you might not recognize, WhatsApp is introducing a safety overview function for group chats. Key details about the group and safety advice will be included in the safety overview.
For instance, you will be able to see whether the individual who added you is a contact of yours, as well as whether any group members are contacts of yours.
You might select to view the discussion for further context if you think you might recognize the group. In either case, chat notifications will be turned off until you indicate that you wish to stay in the group.
WhatsApp warns that before requesting a message on private messaging apps like WhatsApp, scammers may attempt to initiate a discussion with you online. The app is experimenting with new methods to warn users before they engage in conversation with someone who might be attempting to con them in order to guard against this strategy.
For instance, by providing more context about the person they are messaging, it is attempting to alert users when they initiate a conversation with someone who is not in their contacts. Additionally, WhatsApp disclosed how it collaborated with OpenAI to thwart scam attempts that were linked to a scam center located in Cambodia.
WhatsApp explained in a blog post.:
“These attempts ranged from offering payments for fake likes to enlisting others into a rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme, or luring people to invest in cryptocurrency.
As OpenAI reported, the scammers used ChatGPT to generate the initial text message containing a link to a WhatsApp chat, and then quickly directed the target to Telegram, where they were assigned a task of liking videos on TikTok.
The scammers attempted to build trust in their scheme by sharing how much the target has already ‘earned’ in theory, before asking them to deposit money into a crypto account as the next task.”
According to WhatsApp, users can guard against scams by considering whether the message seems real before replying, thanks to the new features. After that, they ought to inquire as to whether the request is reasonable and whether they are pressuring you to perform. You should confirm their identify using a different channel of contact if they are posing as a friend or relative.
