WhatsApp announced on Tuesday that it is implementing new features to assist users in identifying hoaxes on the messaging service.
The organization also disclosed that it has terminated over 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts associated with criminal fraud centers targeting individuals worldwide.
The new features are intended to assist in identifying scams in both group and individual conversations on the Meta-owned platform.
WhatsApp is introducing a safety overview feature for group conversations. This feature will be displayed when an individual not on your contact list adds you to a new group with which you may not be familiar.
The safety overview will encompass essential information regarding the group and recommendations for maintaining one’s safety.
For instance, you will be able to determine whether the individual who added you is your contact and whether any group member is a contact of yours.
You can view the conversation to obtain additional information if you recognize the group. Until you indicate that you wish to remain in the group, notifications from the discussion will be muted.
Regarding individual communications, WhatsApp warns that scammers may attempt to initiate conversations with you on other websites before requesting that you communicate with them on private messaging platforms such as WhatsApp.
To safeguard against this strategy, the application is developing novel methods to notify users before initiating communication with an individual attempting to defraud them.
For instance, it is currently in operation to alert users when they initiate a conversation with an individual not on their contacts list by providing them with supplementary information regarding the individual they are communicating with.
WhatsApp also disclosed how it collaborated with OpenAI to thwart fraud attempts linked to a scam center in Cambodia.
In a blog post, WhatsApp detailed the various attempts to entice individuals to invest in cryptocurrency, enlist others in a rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme, and offer payments for phony likes.
“The scammers utilized ChatGPT to generate the initial text message, which contained a link to a WhatsApp chat. Subsequently, they directed the target to Telegram, where they were assigned a task of liking videos on TikTok,” as reported by OpenAI.
The fraudsters endeavored to establish trust in their scheme by revealing the amount of money the target had already “earned” in theory. Subsequently, they requested that the target deposit funds into a cryptocurrency account.
According to WhatsApp, users can safeguard themselves from scams by considering whether the message appears to be a legitimate mission before responding.
They should subsequently inquire whether the request is logical and if they are pressuring you to take action. If they profess to be a friend or family member, it is advisable to employ an alternative method of communication to confirm their identity.
