Meta Rolls Out New Anti‑Scam Tools for WhatsApp and Messenger
Meta is launching new protections to help users avoid scams on WhatsApp and Messenger. Since the start of 2025, the company says it has detected and disrupted ~8 million accounts tied to scam centers in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the UAE and the Philippines, and taken action on 21,000+ Facebook Pages impersonating legitimate customer support.
What’s new
- WhatsApp screen‑share warnings: If you attempt to share your screen with someone not in your contacts during a video call, WhatsApp will show a prominent warning reminding you that screen sharing exposes everything on your phone (including banking info). Only share with people you trust.
- Messenger AI scam detection (testing): When a message looks suspicious, Messenger will pop up a notice and let you forward it to Meta for an AI review. If flagged, it highlights common red flags (fast‑cash/job offers, requests for gift cards/wires) and offers one‑tap options to report and block.
- Crackdown on fake support: Ongoing enforcement against Pages posing as customer service for banks, retailers, shippers and more.
Availability and safety tips
- Rollout: Screen‑share warnings on WhatsApp are starting to roll out now. The Messenger AI detection feature is in testing; Meta hasn’t shared a wide release date.
- Secure your accounts: Enable passkeys for phishing‑resistant sign‑ins and run Security Checkup to review recovery info and password hygiene.
- Remember: Don’t send gift cards or wire transfers to strangers, and verify support numbers/jobs via official websites.
Why it matters: Inline warnings and AI guidance can interrupt scams before money changes hands, while platform‑level takedowns reduce exposure for vulnerable users, including the elderly.
References:
Coverage: Meta’s anti‑scam updates ·
Meta Transparency Center
Discussion: Would AI warnings change how you respond to unexpected messages or calls, or do you prefer relying on your own judgment?