WhatsApp keeps adding new features to keep users safe. The latest update is a Scam Alert feature for group chats, designed to protect people from suspicious and unwanted groups.
With this feature, if someone adds you to a group and that person is not in your contact list, WhatsApp will send you an alert notification. This alert will give important details about the group, such as:
The total number of members in it
Whether anyone from your contacts is part of it
When the group was created
Along with this, WhatsApp will also provide safety tips to help you avoid scams.
If you find the group suspicious, you can directly choose the Leave Group option without opening the chat. If you want, you can still open and join the conversation.
Why This Feature Was Needed
Recently, scammers have started targeting people by adding them to unknown WhatsApp groups.
Many of these groups are used for investment scams, where members are first given false assurances and then tricked into downloading fake apps, eventually losing money.
WhatsApp is also developing a similar Scam Alert for direct messages.
This will warn you about messages from unknown numbers even in personal chats, though it’s still in the development stage.
WhatsApp’s Action Against Scammers
Apart from alerts, WhatsApp is actively blocking scam accounts. According to Meta’s June compliance report, over 9.8 million accounts were banned in India for abuse, spreading rumors, and breaking rules.
To detect scams, WhatsApp uses a three-step abuse detection system. It monitors activities when an account is created, when messages are sent, and it also reviews user reports.
