WhatsApp Launches ‘Safety Overview’ to Fight Scam Groups; 6.8 Million Fraud Accounts Banned
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 6 : In a robust move aimed at tackling the growing threat of online scams, WhatsApp has rolled out a new ‘Safety Overview’ tool that enhances user control and visibility when being added to groups, particularly by unknown contacts. The feature, part of WhatsApp’s ongoing efforts to strengthen platform security, comes as the Meta-owned messaging app intensifies its crackdown on criminal networks exploiting messaging platforms to conduct fraudulent activities.
The ‘Safety Overview’ feature is designed to protect users from being unknowingly added to suspicious or unsolicited groups. When a user is added to a group by someone who is not in their contacts, the feature will present them with a notification containing key information about the group—such as its name, participants, and creation details—along with safety tips and options. Users can choose to exit immediately without opening the chat or review the conversation for context before deciding to stay. Importantly, notifications from such groups will remain muted until the user explicitly opts to engage.
“We believe these added layers of transparency and control will help users make informed decisions and avoid being pulled into unsafe group environments,” WhatsApp said in a statement. The company also revealed that it is exploring similar safety enhancements for individual chats, including showing more context when users initiate conversations with people not in their contact list.
In parallel with the feature update, WhatsApp also disclosed its intensified enforcement actions against fraud networks and scam centres, particularly those linked to organised crime in Southeast Asia. According to the company, over 6.8 million accounts associated with criminal scam centres have been proactively banned in the first six months of 2025 alone.
“These accounts were taken down before they could be operationalized, based on advanced detection and intelligence-gathering by our internal security teams,” the company said. It added that such scam operations often involve forced labour and use technology platforms to exploit people across borders.
In one major crackdown, WhatsApp, along with parent company Meta and OpenAI, dismantled a fraud scheme operated from Cambodia, which involved an elaborate multi-platform strategy. Scammers used ChatGPT to generate convincing WhatsApp messages that directed victims to Telegram. Once there, users were assigned fraudulent tasks like liking TikTok videos as part of a fake job offer or investment opportunity. These schemes culminated in demands for cryptocurrency deposits, masked as the next step in their so-called earnings.
“This is a textbook example of how criminals are adapting AI tools and messaging platforms for deception. The Safety Overview and enforcement measures are our response to that evolving threat landscape,” WhatsApp noted.
By tightening entry into group chats, enhancing context around unknown messages, and aggressively removing fraudulent accounts, WhatsApp aims to fortify user trust and safety. The move underscores a broader trend across major tech platforms: making digital spaces safer without sacrificing usability, especially amid the growing sophistication of online fraud.
As cybercrime continues to evolve, tools like Safety Overview reflect WhatsApp’s broader commitment to responsible innovation, where empowering users with awareness and control remains central to the platform’s strategy.
