Menlo Park: WhatsApp has taken down more than 6.8 million scam accounts as part of its global crackdown on fraud during the first half of 2025.
The accounts were linked to criminal networks operating from scam centres across Southeast Asia, including countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. According to Meta, WhatsApp has proactively detected and removed these accounts before they could be used to launch widespread scams.
Many of the scam operations involve forced labour and are run by organised criminal groups targeting users through fake investment offers, lottery wins, or job opportunities. To strengthen user protection, WhatsApp has introduced new anti-fraud features.
One such feature alerts users if they are added to a group chat by someone who is not in their contact list, a tactic commonly used by scammers to spread fake investment schemes. The platform also encourages users to enable two-step verification to prevent account hijacking.
Meta has revealed that in one notable case, WhatsApp collaborated with Meta’s security team and OpenAI to dismantle a network run by a Cambodian crime group.
This group used ChatGPT to write persuasive scam instructions and operated a fake rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme, luring victims with offers of easy money for liking and sharing social media posts.
These scams typically begin with a random text message, followed by continued communication on messaging platforms. Victims are then directed to complete transactions via payment apps or cryptocurrency exchanges. Meta has warned users to be cautious if they are asked to pay upfront in return for promised earnings, a common red flag.
Authorities in affected regions have urged people to stay alert and make use of available security features. In Singapore, for example, the police have advised users to report suspicious messages and avoid engaging with unknown contacts on WhatsApp.
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