WhatsApp crackdown: What UAE users need to know about new scam prevention tools
New safety features now alert users when added to unknown groups
DUBAI: WhatsApp has intensified its efforts to combat criminal scam centres with new in-app safety tools and large-scale account bans.
The platform confirmed that more than 6.8 million accounts linked to fraudulent activity were proactively banned in the first half of 2025 – even before scammers could execute their schemes.
These developments are part of WhatsApp’s expanding global initiative to combat scams, including cases directly affecting users in the UAE and wider Middle East region. According to Meta, the platform’s parent company, user safety is being approached through both technical measures and educational resources to help individuals recognise scams before they escalate.
How do these scams work?
Criminal scam centres typically run multiple fraudulent operations in parallel. Common ploys include fake cryptocurrency investments and pyramid schemes, often involving promises of high returns in exchange for upfront deposits.
These schemes are designed to unfold across platforms: many begin on dating or messaging apps, progress to private chats such as WhatsApp, and then transition victims to payment channels or crypto platforms. This cross-platform model complicates efforts to detect and stop fraud through any single app.
In one recent case, a scam network based in Cambodia was shut down in a joint action by Meta, WhatsApp, and OpenAI. The operation involved the use of ChatGPT to craft convincing messages. Victims were first contacted on social platforms, redirected to WhatsApp, and finally moved to Telegram, where they were urged to perform small tasks – such as liking TikTok videos – before being manipulated into depositing money into crypto wallets.
What tools are being introduced?
To stay ahead of scammers, WhatsApp has introduced new features addressing both group and individual messaging vulnerabilities:
- Group Messaging Updates: Users who are added to a group by someone not in their contacts will now see a safety overview screen. This includes group details and tips, allowing users to exit quietly before viewing any messages. Notifications from such groups will remain muted unless the user chooses to engage.
added to a group you don’t recognize? ???? if that happens, we give you info about the group and suggest safety tools you can use to decide if it’s a group you want to stay in or leave
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) August 5, 2025
- One-on-One Messaging Safeguards: WhatsApp is currently testing tools that give users more information before replying to messages from unknown numbers. This could include contextual details about the sender to help users make informed decisions before replying or engaging.
These features are designed to stop scammers at key entry points and limit their ability to manipulate victims within the app.
What can users do?
WhatsApp urges all users – especially those in the UAE – to follow a "Pause, Question, Verify" method when they receive unusual or suspicious messages:
- PAUSE before replying. Consider whether you recognise the number or if the message appears authentic.
- QUESTION the intent. Is someone asking for money, gift cards, or sensitive information? Are they rushing you to act? These are typical scam behaviours.
- VERIFY identities through another communication method, such as a phone call to a known number, before taking any action.
Kojo Boakye, Meta’s Vice President of Public Policy for Africa, Middle East and Türkiye, reaffirmed the company’s stance: "The fight against scams is a relentless one, and we are continually evolving our defences to stay ahead of bad actors."