Ethical Hacking News
WhatsApp has taken a major step in combating global scams by removing 6.8 million accounts linked to scam centers, mainly located in Cambodia. This move is part of the platform's proactive efforts to protect its users from financial losses and scam-related activities.
WhatsApp has removed 6.8 million accounts linked to global scam centers. Scam centers are often fueled by forced labor and operated by organized crime primarily in Southeast Asia. WhatsApp is rolling out new anti-scam tools to protect its users, including a safety overview feature for unknown groups. Users are advised to pause, question, and verify before responding to suspicious messages, especially from unknown numbers promising quick money or claiming urgent issues.
WhatsApp, a popular messaging platform used by millions of people worldwide, has taken significant steps to combat scams and protect its users from financial losses. In a joint effort with Meta and OpenAI, WhatsApp removed 6.8 million accounts linked to global scam centers, mainly located in Cambodia. This massive operation is part of WhatsApp's ongoing proactive work to protect people from scams.
Scam centers are often fueled by forced labor and operated by organized crime primarily in Southeast Asia. These centers run multiple schemes, frequently requiring upfront payment for fake returns. The scams often start with text messages or on a dating app, before shifting across platforms to avoid detection. This tactic allows scammers to evade law enforcement and continue their nefarious activities.
The crackdown on scam accounts began after WhatsApp detected and banned over 6.8 million accounts linked to scam centers during the first six months of this year. Based on investigative insights into the latest enforcement efforts, WhatsApp proactively took down accounts before scam centers could operationalize them. This proactive approach has helped minimize the impact of scams and prevented scammers from using WhatsApp's platform for their illicit activities.
One recent example of a successful disruption is the shutdown of scams linked to a criminal group in Cambodia. These scams included fake paid likes, scooter rental schemes, and crypto cons. Scammers used ChatGPT to send initial WhatsApp messages, before moving victims to Telegram, where they were assigned tasks like liking TikTok videos. To build trust, scammers showed fake earnings before asking for crypto deposits.
To combat such scams, WhatsApp is rolling out new anti-scam tools to protect its users. A new safety overview will appear when a user is added to an unknown group, allowing them to review the details before deciding to stay or leave. Notifications will remain silenced until the user chooses to engage. For one-on-one chats, WhatsApp is testing warnings when messaging people not in their contacts, offering more context to help users pause and think before engaging.
To avoid scams in private messaging, WhatsApp experts recommend users to pause, question, and verify before responding to suspicious messages, especially from unknown numbers promising quick money or claiming urgent issues like unpaid bills. Scammers often exploit trust or fear to get people to send money or personal information. Users should always take a moment to assess the request, look for red flags (like high pay for little work or pressure to act fast), and confirm identities through a trusted communication method before engaging.
In light of this recent crackdown on scam accounts, users are advised to remain vigilant when using WhatsApp or any other messaging platform. By being aware of common scam tactics and taking necessary precautions, users can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to scams.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/WhatsApp-Cracks-Down-on-68-Million-Scam-Accounts-in-Global-Takedown-ehn.shtml
https://securityaffairs.com/180864/cyber-crime/whatsapp-cracks-down-on-6-8m-scam-accounts-in-global-takedown.html
Published: Wed Aug 6 11:39:49 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
