WhatsApp scam accounts are being shut down by Meta, with 6.8 million banned in 2025 and new safety tools added to protect users from fraud and fake investment scams
WhatsApp scam accounts are being wiped out by Meta in an aggressive move to protect users.
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On Tuesday, Meta announced it disabled nearly 7 million WhatsApp accounts in the first half of 2025, targeting organized scammers behind fake investment offers and pyramid schemes.
“These accounts were detected and taken down before scammers could strike,” said Clair Deevy, WhatsApp’s Director of External Affairs.
Many of these fraudulent accounts were linked to scam centers in Southeast Asia.
The scams, often masked as lucrative cryptocurrency deals or urgent payment demands, are increasingly sophisticated. In one case,
Meta and OpenAI jointly disrupted a scheme based in Cambodia that used ChatGPT to craft bait messages with links directing victims to WhatsApp chats.
To combat this surge in fraud, WhatsApp has rolled out new safety overviews. These prompt users to stay cautious when added to unfamiliar group chats and offer practical tips plus a quick exit button.
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Meta emphasized: “If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.”
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
