WhatsApp blocks 6.8 million fraudulent accounts 

WhatsApp, the world’s leading messaging platform, has blocked 6.8 million accounts in the first six months of 2025 due to their involvement in fraud, scams, and deceptive activities.

According to international media reports, these accounts were reportedly operated by organised criminal networks and were being used to scam people globally, with a large concentration in Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand—regions known for being hubs of scam operations.

In response, Meta has introduced new security features on WhatsApp to strengthen user protection. One key feature now alerts users when they are added to a group chat by an unknown contact, helping prevent unwanted or suspicious interactions.

Meta stated that these measures are part of a broader effort to combat the rising trend of account hijackings and fake investment scheme promotions being pushed through group chats.

The company also revealed that some scam operations are now leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) tools to craft convincing and deceptive messages aimed at misleading users.

Authorities have urged users to stay vigilant, enable two-step verification, and avoid engaging with suspicious messages or unknown contacts.