WhatsApp tighten the bolts in terms of security. It is no longer possible to be added to a group by a stranger without having a say. When a user is integrated into a group by a person who does not appear in his contacts, the application displays an information panel: adding the adding, number of members, date of creation of the group and security advice. The idea is to provide enough elements for the user to assess if it is a scam attempt.
6.8 million accounts deleted since January
Without having to open the discussion, the user can thus choose to leave it immediately. Notifications from this group are automatically mute until it decides to stay or leave.
This function is not trivial: it appears when the scams are increasing sharply, often linked to pyramidal diagrams or promises of fast earnings with cryptocurrencies. Over the first six months of 2025, more than 6.8 million accounts were deleted by WhatsApp for their link with these fraudulent practices.
WhatsApp teams also attack the root of the problem: scam centers, often located in Southeast Asia, piloted by organized crime and sometimes fueled by forced work. These groups simultaneously lead several campaigns – from fictitious investment to the rental of scooters in the form of pyramidal systems – by regularly changing platform to blur the tracks. The typical scheme begins on a social network, branches off to WhatsApp or Telegram, and ends on a payment platform.
WhatsApp is thus associated with other technological actors such as Meta and Openai to track down these scams, some of them have even been generated using Chatgpt. A recent example: convince Internet users to like Tiktok videos in exchange for money, before asking them for a cryptocurrency deposit.
To avoid falling into these traps, WhatsApp also tests warnings when a message comes from an unknown number. The idea is to invite users to “take a break” before answering the right questions, then checking the identity of the contact by another channel, for example a classic call.
Messaging recalls some essential reflexes to adopt. Taking their time: a hurried person is often suspect. Analyze the request: fast gain, gift card or urgent payment are alert signals. Check the identity: in case of doubt, it is better to call the person who says who says to you directly.
Useful tools and common sense advice, in short. WhatsApp tries to regain control on a scourge that targets more and more vulnerable users. But the app recognizes that no measure is infallible: the best defense is still vigilance.
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