WhatsApp deletes over 6.8million scam accounts but experts say more action is needed
Millions of scam accounts have been removed from WhatsApp. Meta, the popular messaging app's parent company, has claimed it took down 6.8million accounts which were linked to scams in the first half of this year.
The tech giant says that many of these suspicious accounts were tied to organised criminals in South East Asia, who often used forced labour to carry out scams targeting users all over the world.
It comes as Meta announced new safety measures for WhatsApp, which aim to warn users of potential scams and fraudulent activity. This mass deletion of millions of accounts specifically targeted criminal operations which involve adding users to group chats to promote false investment schemes and other scams.
And as AI continues to evolve, these scams have only gotten smarter. In one case, WhatsApp worked with Meta and OpenAI to disrupt scams linked to a Cambodian criminal group.
The scammers were offering cash for likes on social media posts promoting a fake rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme, reported the BBC.
Meta said scammers had used ChatGPT to create instructions issued to potential victims, who the cybercriminals would first contact with a text message before moving the conversation to social media or private messaging apps.
These scams were usually completed on payment or cryptocurrency platforms.
But while Meta says it has deleted 6.8million fraudulent accounts in the first half of this year alone, many claim the company should be doing more to prevent cyber crooks from being able to set up their scams in the first place.
Consumer law expert Lisa Webb said: "Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp users are being inundated with fraudulent ads for everything from fake investment opportunities to dodgy products and non-existent job offers.
"Meta needs to ensure that scams are prevented from ever appearing on its platforms in the first place.
"Ofcom must now take action to enforce the parts of the Online Safety Act already in effect, and to issue robust rules governing fraudulent paid-for ads, so that tech firms are forced to take full responsibility for the content on their sites."
The scam crackdown coincides with the UK's new Online Safety Act, which now requires social media platforms and websites to add age verification features to prevent young kids from accessing inappropriate content or pornography.
Back in March, new rules requiring sites to protect all users from illegal content were introduced. And as of July 25, the Act introduced new rules specifically to protect children.
The Gov website says: "Platforms are now required to use highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing pornography, or content which encourages self-harm, suicide or eating disorder content.
"Platforms must also prevent children from accessing other harmful and age-inappropriate content such as bullying, hateful content and content which encourages dangerous stunts or ingesting dangerous substances. Platforms must also provide parents and children with clear and accessible ways to report problems online when they do arise."
To adhere to these rules, sites, search engines and social media apps must also use algorithms that can filter out harmful material for younger users.
But many people have complained that the new law puts age restrictions on vital content and sites that should not be deemed 'adult', including Reddit forum threads on alcohol and even some Wikipedia sections.
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