Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced the launch of new tools to help WhatsApp and Messenger users protect themselves from potential scams and secure their accounts. On Messenger, the company is testing more advanced scam-detection capabilities that will warn users when a new contact sends a potentially suspicious message, allowing them to send the messages for AI-powered scam review.
In WhatsApp, Meta is introducing new warnings that will alert users to only share their screen with people they trust when starting a video call with an unknown contact. This feature aims to prevent scammers from pressuring users into sharing sensitive information, such as bank details or verification codes, under the guise of a video call. WhatsApp has also previously added a “safety overview” context card to help users spot potential scams when being added to a group chat by unknown contacts.
Meta has also revealed that it has disabled nearly 8 million accounts linked to scam centers in several countries, and removed over 21,000 Pages and accounts impersonating customer support and attempting to trick victims. The company has also collaborated with OpenAI to take down a criminal scam center in Cambodia that was linked to a wide range of scams. These new anti-scam tools are part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to protect its users from the growing threat of cybercriminals targeting its platforms.