Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, has announced a new wave of security tools designed to protect users from scams across its messaging platforms — particularly WhatsApp and Messenger.
With online scams continuing to rise, especially those involving romance fraud and cryptocurrency investments, these new features aim to give users more control, awareness, and real-time protection against suspicious activity.
New Safety Measures on WhatsApp
Meta is introducing a new screen-sharing warning system on WhatsApp.
Whenever a user tries to share their screen during a video call with an unknown contact, WhatsApp will now display a security alert.
This measure is meant to prevent people from accidentally revealing sensitive information such as:
- Bank account details
- One-time verification codes
- Passwords or login credentials
By flagging potential risks early, Meta hopes to reduce the number of scams that rely on social engineering and visual trickery during calls.
“Scam Detection” Feature on Messenger
Messenger users are also getting an extra layer of protection. Meta has added a new feature called “Scam Detection”, which can be turned on from the Privacy & Safety settings.
Once enabled, the app automatically analyzes messages from unknown senders to spot scam-like behavior.
If a suspicious message is detected, Messenger will:
- Notify the user that the message might be fraudulent.
- Offer the option to send the recent messages to AI review for further analysis.
Note: If messages are sent for AI review, they lose their end-to-end encryption — but only those selected messages are shared.
If confirmed as a potential scam, users receive:
- Educational insights on common fraud types
- Guidance on how to identify scams
- Easy options to block or report the sender
Meta’s Larger Battle Against Online Scams
These updates are part of Meta’s broader push to combat global scam operations. According to the company:
- Over 21,000 fake Facebook Pages and accounts posing as customer support have been taken down.
- Nearly 8 million fake accounts tied to criminal scam networks have been detected and disrupted across Facebook and Instagram in 2025 alone.
These scam networks primarily operate out of Southeast Asia, with hubs in:
- 🇲🇲 Myanmar
- 🇱🇦 Laos
- 🇰🇭 Cambodia
- 🇦🇪 UAE
- 🇵🇭 Philippines
The Rise of “Romance Baiting” Scams
One of the most concerning trends is romance baiting, also known as pig butchering scams.
Here’s how it works:
- Scammers — often victims of human trafficking themselves — initiate contact through dating apps or messaging platforms.
- They build emotional connections and gain victims’ trust over time.
- Once the bond is strong, they introduce fake investment opportunities, typically involving cryptocurrency.
- Victims are persuaded to deposit increasing sums into bogus trading platforms — only for the scammers to vanish with the funds.
A report from Infoblox describes the process as “psychological manipulation at its finest” — blending emotional grooming with financial deceit.
Victims, often unaware they’re being conned, suffer devastating financial and emotional losses.
Final Thoughts
Meta’s new scam-prevention tools reflect a growing recognition that online safety requires proactive defense, not just user awareness.
By blending AI-driven detection, privacy-first design, and educational support, these updates could mark a significant step in reducing social-engineering-based attacks across its platforms.
However, as scams evolve, user vigilance remains key — because no system is foolproof.
Stay safe:
- Never share your screen or personal details with unknown contacts.
- Verify job offers, investment opportunities, and romantic approaches before engaging.
- Report suspicious activity directly through app settings.
Awareness is still your best defense in the digital world.