Meta has launched new scam-detection features for its WhatsApp and Messenger applications. This initiative aims to protect users, with a specific focus on older adults, from online fraud by delivering real-time warnings during potentially fraudulent interactions with unknown contacts.
The WhatsApp feature will now display a warning when a user attempts to share their screen during a video call with an unrecognized contact. This function is designed to counteract a tactic where scammers trick victims into revealing sensitive data, such as bank details or personal verification codes, through the screen-sharing function.
On Messenger, the system will automatically flag messages that exhibit behaviors or content signals associated with scams. These signals include urgent pleas for money or messages that impersonate entities like banks or delivery firms. When a potential scam is identified, an alert will inform the user of the risk and provide options to dismiss the notification, block the sender, or submit a report. Users can also forward suspicious messages for an AI review.
These updates are part of a broader security effort. In the first half of 2025, Meta reported disrupting approximately 8 million scam accounts in regions including Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the UAE, and the Philippines. The company also removed over 21,000 Facebook Pages and accounts that were impersonating customer support teams to steal information. The new warnings are timed to appear at key moments when scams are likely to occur, facilitating safer decision-making in real time rather than relying on generic advice.
In addition to these new features, Meta encourages users to employ existing security tools to bolster account protection. The company recommends using its Security Checkup and Privacy Checkup features, as well as enabling Passkeys for more secure login procedures.
