Meta Cracks Down on Crypto Scams with New WhatsApp and Messenger Warnings Meta is launching new security features for WhatsApp and Messenger designed to protect users from sophisticated scams, many of which target cryptocurrency holdings. The company revealed it has already disrupted nearly 8 million accounts linked to scam centers across several countries and taken action on over 21,000 fake customer support Pages on Facebook. A significant focus of the new protections is on shielding vulnerable users, including the elderly, who may be less familiar with the latest tactics used by digital scammers. On WhatsApp, a key new defense involves screen sharing during video calls. Scammers often trick victims into sharing their screens to steal sensitive information like passwords and private keys. Now, if a user attempts to share their screen with someone not in their contacts list, a full-screen warning will appear. This warning explicitly tells users to only share their screen with people they trust, as the other person will be able to see everything displayed on the phone, including banking and crypto exchange apps. For Messenger, Meta is testing advanced scam detection tools directly within mobile chats. When a user receives a message flagged as potentially suspicious, a warning notice will pop up. Users are given the option to forward the message to Meta for an AI review. If Meta AI determines the message is likely a scam, it will show the user a list of common scam indicators. These include job offers that require an upfront payment, promises of fast cash, and work-from-home offers for jobs that cannot logically be done remotely. The warning also reminds users never to wire transfer money or send gift cards as payment, which are common methods scammers use to steal funds. At the bottom of this warning page, users can immediately report and block the account that sent the message. Meta has not announced a specific date for the wide release of this Messenger feature. In the meantime, the company is encouraging all users to strengthen their account security by setting up passkeys for easier and more secure logins and by running a Security Checkup to review their settings and update passwords.
