WhatsApp launches a safety tool after banning millions of fraud accounts

The fraudsters are working hard more than ever to deceive people online, but WhatsApp is largely due. In the first half of 2025, WhatsApp removed more than 6.8 million accounts linked to global fraud networks, many of which are managed by criminal groups and even forced work camps in Southeast Asia.

At the same time, the application introduces new tools to facilitate the discovery of fraud and stay safe during the correspondence. These updates come as fraudsters are increasingly used for private messaging applications, dating platforms, social media and even AI tools such as ChatgPT to operate their schemes. Let’s divide what is new, how fraud and what you can do now to protect yourself.

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How to target WhatsApp users

Online fraud, online, no longer live on only one platform. Criminal processes often begin to apply a text or dating, move to WhatsApp, end Telegram or exchange encryption. In only one scheme, fraudsters may manage a victim through five different applications to make fraud more difficult to discover.

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In the last removal process, WhatsApp and Meta have made a partnership with Openai to close the fraud associated with Cambodia. Budgets used Chatgpt to create messages that offer fake vehicles “like for payment.” The victims were informed of sending a message on WhatsApp, then they moved to Telegram and asked to love Tiktok videos. Once the confidence is built, the fraudsters requested the coding deposits to cancel the insurance of fake profits.

These fraud feed on financial tension and urgency. If someone promises quick criticism, easy returns or presses you to act quickly, stop and think.

New WHATSAPP anti -race tools

To stop fraud before they spread, WhatsApp offers new features to give you more control.

Safety Overview

If someone in your contacts is not added to a group, you will now see a safety screen with details about the group and privacy tips. You can leave the collection immediately, without reading one message. The notifications remain silent unless you want to stay.

Additional warnings of unknown contacts

Reduces often communicate on social media or dating sites, then ask to switch to WhatsApp. To help you discover these red flags, WhatsApp tests alerts that appear when sending a message to someone in your contacts. These alerts provide an additional context so that you can determine if you will participate.

How to avoid common messages

Whatsapp cooperated with the Rachel Tobac to share this three -step strategy to stop fraud before it succeeds:

1) stop

Slow. If you do not know the number or feel the message, wait before answering.

2) Question

Does it seem realistic? Do they ask for money, nails, or gift cards? Do they offer big batches for a little work? These are classic fraud signs.

3) Check

If someone claims to be a friend or relative, call them through another way you already use it, such as calling his regular phone number.

How to protect yourself from WhatsApp fraud

Even with the WhatsApp removal from a 6.8 million account account associated with fraud, the responsibility to remain safe and endless there. The fraudsters will always find new angles and are often on the same people through multiple platforms. For this reason, it is intelligent to take additional steps that go beyond what WhatsApp offers. Here are five ways to add layers of protection:

1) Using a strong anti -virus program

The fraudsters often try to deceive you to click on the links or download the files that can bargone your device. Strong antivirus program can prevent these threats before hurting. It can also alert you to alleviation attempts that deny whatsapp. The best way to protect yourself from malicious links that prove harmful programs, which may reach your own information, is to install a strong antivirus program on all your devices. This protection can also be alerted to relieving emails and fraud on Ransomwari, and maintaining your personal information and digital assets.

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2) Appointment of tougher privacy controls in WhatsApp

Determine who can add you to group chats or see your personal information. Go to WhatsApp privacy settings and change “groups” to “my contacts” or “my contacts except …” to avoid pulling them into suspicious chats. Here’s how to limit those who can add you to WhatsApp chat chats:

• Open WhatsApp On your phone.
• Click on Settings code:On iPhone: Lower right corner.Android: Click on the three points on the right top, then select Settings. (SEttings may vary depending on the Android manufacturer)
• On iPhone: Lower right corner.
• Android: Click on the three points on the right top, then select Settings. (SEttings may vary depending on the Android manufacturer)
• handle privacy.
• Pass down and click Collections.
• Choose one of the following options:everyone – Anyone can add you to groups. (Uncomfortable)My contacts – Persons can only be in your contacts.My contacts are only … – Select specific contacts you want to block from adding you to groups.
• everyone – Anyone can add you to groups. (Uncomfortable)
• My contacts – Persons can only be in your contacts.
• My contacts are only … – Select specific contacts you want to block from adding you to groups.
• handle finished Or the back arrow to save your settings.

For advice: While you are in the privacy menu, see other settings like Profile imageand onAnd The last time was seen and online. Determine this to My contacts or no one For more control of who can see your personal information.

3) Remove your personal data from the web

Budgets often get rid of the Internet to get names, numbers, email messages and social media accounts to make their messages look more convincing. The personal data removal service can help clean your details from the data broker sites, which makes it difficult for the fraudsters to target you.

Although there is no service that ensures the complete removal of your data from the Internet, the data removal service is really a smart choice. It is neither cheap nor your privacy. These services do all work for you through effective monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. This gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the Internet.

By reducing the available information, you reduce the risk of referring to the cross -cut data from the violations of information that they may find on the dark web, making it difficult for them to target you.

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4) Empowering bilateral approval

Run verify two steps in WhatsApp to prevent someone from kidnapping your account. This adds an additional pin icon that the deception cannot reach, even if they deceive you to detect your login approved data.

How to enable two steps verification in WhatsApp

• Open WhatsApp On your phone.
• Click on Settings code:On iPhone: Lower right corner.Android: Click on the three points on the right top, then select Settings. (SEttings may vary depending on the Android manufacturer.)
• On iPhone: Lower right corner.
• Android: Click on the three points on the right top, then select Settings. (SEttings may vary depending on the Android manufacturer.)
• handle account.
• handle Verify two steps.
• handle maybe or employment.
• construction Pin 6 numbers You will remember.
• to be sure pin.
• (Optional but recommended) Add your email address. This allows you to reset the pin if it forgets it.
• handle the next And then finished.

Once you can, WhatsApp will sometimes be asked to re -enter your personal identification number to help you remember it. This added layer of safety helps prevent fraudsters, even if they can reach your phone number or SIM card.

5) Do not mix platforms when chatting

If someone sends messages to you on WhatsApp, but they say they have found you on Instagram or the dating application, be careful. Criminal fraud centers depend on the navigation between platforms to avoid detection. Do not follow the links or move the conversations unless you have confirmed the identity on another reliable channel.

What does this mean to you

If you are using WhatsApp, these new tools give you more control of those who call you and how. Fraud is not always clear, but with integrated safety features and little skepticism, you can avoid expensive errors. The fact that WhatsApp has banned millions of accounts shows the widespread spread of these tricks. Staying in view is your first defense line.

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Budgets will always look for new ways to deceive people, but applications like WhatsApp are fighting with more intelligent tools and better protection. Knowing what to monitor and how to respond can make a big difference. So before clicking, responding or sharing, take a moment to stop, ask and verify.

Have you ever been targeted by WhatsApp or another application? Let’s know through writing to us in Cyberguy.com/contact

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