WHATSAPP has revealed its taken down 6.8million accounts in a huge crackdown on serious misuse.
The Meta-owned messaging app said the banned accounts were linked to criminal scam centres targeting people across the world.
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Many were tied to forced labour and run by organised crime gangs primarily situated in Southeast Asia, the firm claims.
The 6.8million accounts in question were all banned in the first six months of 2025.
“Based on our investigative insights into the latest enforcement efforts, we proactively detected and took down accounts before scam centers were able to operationalize them,” the social networking giant said.
“These scam centers typically run many scam campaigns at once – from cryptocurrency investments to pyramid schemes.
“There is always a catch and it should be a red flag for everyone: you have to pay upfront to get promised returns or earnings.”
Meta notes one example where it worked with ChatGPT owner OpenAI to disrupt a criminal scam being run out of Cambodia.
These tempted people with cash for liking social media posts to promote a fake rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme.
It comes as a new group messaging safety overview is rolled out to users from today.
This shows users key information when added to a group by someone not in their contacts.
Meta has three tips to help individuals avoid being scammed on WhatsApp.
- Pause Take time before you respond.
- Question: Question whether what’s being asked makes sense and whether it’s too good to be true.
- Verify: If they’re claiming to be a friend or family member, make sure that they are who they say they are by contacting that friend directly.
“It’s positive that WhatsApp has shut down 6.8 million accounts linked to scammers so far this year, but Meta must do much more to stop these criminals across all its platforms,” said Lisa Webb, Which? Consumer Law Expert.
“In 2023 alone, £341 million was lost to authorised push payment fraudsters – over half of those scams were reported as originating on Meta platforms.
“For far too long, Meta has allowed scammers to run rampant across its platforms.
“Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp users are being inundated with fraudulent ads for everything from fake investment opportunities to dodgy products and non-existent job offers.
“Meta needs to ensure that scams are prevented from ever appearing on its platforms in the first place.”
DON’T FALL FOUL OF THE RULES – YOU COULD BE BANNED TOO
Few people realise that they themselves could find their WhatsApp account banned if they break the rules.
And it’s not only being a scammer that could land you in trouble.
Don’t use fake WhatsApp apps
Some people choose to use a WhatsApp ripoff app on Android for different features.
GBWhatsApp and WhatsApp Plus are just two well-known copycat apps.
They still allow you to message your mates through WhatsApp but the app itself looks and feels very different.
However, WhatsApp doesn’t want you using these fakes to access their service.
If experts at the firm detect that you’re using a WhatsApp one of them, your account risks being banned.
Sending too many messages
Chat all day long on WhatsApp if you like but messaging too often and getting on people’s nerves could inadvertently land you in hot water.
This is especially the case if you spam too many groups with nonsense.
If a large volume of people report you it’ll raise the alarm at WhatsApp HQ.
It’s at this point you could have your account restricted.
Spreading hoaxes
We all like a laugh but there are limits – and WhatsApp does not like dangerous hoaxes.
Spreading fake news and hoaxes is against the rules.
If WhatsApp catches you doing this – probably via people reporting you for it – you risk being banned.
