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Fox News
31 minutes ago
- Business
- Fox News
WhatsApp bans 6.8M scam accounts, launches safety tool
Scammers are working harder than ever to trick people online, but WhatsApp is hitting back in a big way. In the first half of 2025, WhatsApp removed more than 6.8 million accounts tied to global scam networks, many of them run by criminal groups and even forced labor camps in Southeast Asia. At the same time, the app is rolling out new tools to make it easier to spot scams and stay safe while messaging. These updates come as fraudsters increasingly use private messaging apps, dating platforms, social media and even AI tools like ChatGPT to run their schemes. Let's break down what's new, how scams are evolving and what you can do right now to protect yourself. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Online scams no longer live on just one platform. Criminal operations often start with a text or dating app, move to WhatsApp, and finish on Telegram or a crypto exchange. In just one scheme, scammers may run a victim through five different apps to make the fraud harder to detect. In a recent takedown, WhatsApp and Meta partnered with OpenAI to shut down a scam operation linked to Cambodia. Fraudsters used ChatGPT to generate messages offering fake "like-for-pay" gigs. Victims were told to message on WhatsApp, then moved to Telegram and asked to like TikTok videos. Once trust was built, scammers asked for crypto deposits to unlock fake earnings. These scams feed on financial stress and urgency. If someone promises fast cash, easy returns or pressures you to act quickly, stop and think. To stop scams before they spread, WhatsApp is introducing new features to give you more control. If someone who's not in your contacts adds you to a group, you'll now see a safety screen with details about the group and privacy tips. You can leave the group instantly, without reading a single message. Notifications stay silent unless you confirm you want to stay. Scammers often reach out on social media or dating sites, then ask to switch to WhatsApp. To help you spot these red flags, WhatsApp is testing alerts that show when you message someone not in your contacts. These alerts provide added context so you can decide whether to engage. WhatsApp has teamed up with internet safety expert Rachel Tobac to share this three-step strategy to stop scams before they succeed: Slow down. If you don't recognize the number or the message feels off, wait before replying. Does it seem realistic? Are they asking for money, PINs or gift cards? Are they offering big payouts for little work? These are classic scam signs. If someone claims to be a friend or relative, contact them through another method you already use, like calling their regular phone number. Even with WhatsApp removing 6.8 million scam-linked accounts, the responsibility to stay safe doesn't end there. Scammers will always find new angles and often prey on the same people across multiple platforms. That's why it's smart to take extra steps beyond what WhatsApp offers. Here are five ways to add layers of protection: Scammers often try to trick you into clicking on links or downloading files that can compromise your device. A strong antivirus program can block these threats before they do harm. It can also alert you to phishing attempts disguised as WhatsApp messages. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Limit who can add you to group chats or see your personal information. Go to your WhatsApp privacy settings and change "Groups" to "My Contacts" or "My Contacts Except..." to avoid being pulled into suspicious chats. Here's how to limit who can add you to WhatsApp group chats: Pro tip: While you're in the Privacy menu, review other settings like Profile Photo, About, and Last Seen & Online. Set these to My Contacts or Nobody for even more control over who can see your personal info. Scammers often scrape the internet for names, numbers, emails and social media accounts to make their messages seem more convincing. A personal data removal service can help scrub your details from data broker sites, making it harder for scammers to target you. While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren't cheap and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It's what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Turn on two-step verification in WhatsApp to prevent someone from hijacking your account. This adds an extra PIN code that scammers can't get through, even if they trick you into revealing your login credentials. How to enable two-step verification in WhatsApp Once enabled, WhatsApp will occasionally ask you to re-enter your PIN to help you remember it. This added layer of security helps block scammers, even if they get access to your phone number or SIM card. If someone messages you on WhatsApp but says they found you on Instagram or a dating app, be extra cautious. Criminal scam centers rely on hopping between platforms to avoid detection. Don't follow links or move conversations unless you've confirmed the identity on another trusted channel. If you use WhatsApp, these new tools give you more control over who contacts you and how. Scams aren't always obvious, but with built-in safety features and a little skepticism, you can avoid costly mistakes. The fact that WhatsApp has banned millions of accounts shows just how widespread and organized these scams have become. Staying informed is your first line of defense. Scammers will always look for new ways to trick people, but apps like WhatsApp are fighting back with smarter tools and better protections. Knowing what to watch for and how to respond can make all the difference. So before you click, reply or share, take a moment to pause, question and verify. Have you ever been targeted by a scam on WhatsApp or another app? Let us know by writing to us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 days ago
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Meta Disrupts Millions of Whatsapp Scam Accounts as Internet Schemes Rise
Meta said Tuesday it banned more than 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts this year linked to scam operations, as the company fights a wave of criminal activity on the internet that has wrangled billions of dollars out of victims' savings. Scam accounts were often linked to criminal centers across Southeast Asia, where scammers run multiple operations at one time, including fraudulent cryptocurrency investments and pyramid schemes. Meta warned users that the operations often ask targets to pay up-front to get promised returns or earnings. Later, scammers sometimes show their victims how much they have already 'earned' before asking them to deposit even more money into the scam, according to the company. Between January and June, Meta used technical signals to identify many of the fraudulent accounts on the encrypted messaging platform before they were able to execute their scams, the company said. Meta also said it will introduce a new safety overview that prompts users when someone who is not in their contact lists adds them to a WhatsApp group. Meta's scam disclosures arrive as federal authorizes warn that people are losing more money to increasingly sophisticated scams. In March, the Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 – a 25 percent increase over the prior year. While the number of reported scams stayed stable, the percentage of people who lost money from them increased by double digits, according to the FTC. Some of the most commonly reported scams included government impostor scams, online shopping issues, fraudulent business and job opportunities, and fake-investment-related scams. 'Scammers' tactics are constantly evolving,' Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. Rachel Tobac, a hacker and CEO of SocialProof Security, said in a video accompanying Meta's blog post that users should pause before responding to messages on internet platforms, noting that scammers often create a fake sense of urgency to get people to respond quickly. 'These scammers prey on people's kindness, desperation or fears that they could be in trouble if they don't send the money fast,' she said. Meta said Tuesday that scammers often try to get their victims to use multiple internet platforms to prevent tech companies from obtaining knowledge about the full extent of their operations. In one case, Meta and OpenAI disrupted a network of accounts connected to a Cambodia-based scam operation that was targeting potential victims with a rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme and fraudulent crypto investment. The operation used ChatGPT to generate a text message link to a WhatsApp chat, where the targets were quickly routed to Telegram. From there, they were instructed to like videos on TikTok, according to the company.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
WhatsApp Bans 6.8 Million Fraud Accounts, Rolls Out Tools to Curb AI-Driven Scams
In an intensified move to tackle the rising threat of online scams, WhatsApp has announced the rollout of new anti-fraud features and revealed that it banned more than 6.8 million accounts in the first half of 2025. According to the Meta-owned platform, these accounts were linked to global scam networks that are increasingly using advanced AI tools and multi-platform strategies to deceive users, especially those facing financial strain. The banned accounts are reportedly tied to criminal fraud centres operating mainly out of Southeast Asia. These syndicates are known to run elaborate scams—from fake investments to pyramid schemes—that lure victims through emotionally appealing or financially enticing offers. Meta stated in a blog post that such schemes often start with innocuous-seeming messages and escalate quickly into data theft or monetary loss. 'We don't just react to reported scams—we're now proactively detecting and removing accounts before they become active,' WhatsApp stated in the blog. A growing trend in these scams involves shifting users between different platforms—like dating apps, Telegram, and cryptocurrency exchanges—to obscure their fraudulent activity. This tactic makes it harder for any one service to detect the full scope of the scam. One notable case involved collaboration between Meta, OpenAI, and WhatsApp to dismantle a scam operation based in Cambodia. In this instance, scammers used ChatGPT to craft convincing messages that led victims to WhatsApp conversations. From there, they were redirected to Telegram and asked to 'like' TikTok videos for a small payment, which was part of a rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme. Victims were eventually coaxed into depositing funds into fraudulent cryptocurrency accounts, believing they were making legitimate investments. To counter such sophisticated manipulation, WhatsApp is rolling out a series of user-facing safety tools. One new feature provides a comprehensive safety overview when a user is added to a group by someone not in their contacts. This includes clear group details, enabling users to exit the group without having to open it. Another tool currently being tested warns users when initiating chats with people outside their contact list. WhatsApp will display additional context about the unknown number to help users decide whether it's safe to proceed. To further reinforce its safety push, Meta has partnered with cybersecurity expert Rachel Tobac to educate users on how to recognize red flags. 'Pause, question, and verify' is her simple yet effective mantra for identifying potential scams. She urges users to be cautious of messages promising quick cash or claiming emergencies from people they don't know well—and to always verify via known, secure channels. 'These scammers aren't just annoying, they're organised, relentless, and often tied to serious criminal operations, including forced labour,' Meta emphasized. With these new tools and awareness efforts, WhatsApp aims to create a safer environment for its users and stay one step ahead of increasingly tech-savvy scam networks.
India Today
5 days ago
- Business
- India Today
WhatsApp rolls out scam-spotting tools, says it took down 68 lakh accounts linked to fraud rings
In a fresh push to combat online scams, WhatsApp has revealed that it took down over 6.8 million accounts tied to organised fraud networks in the first half of 2025. The company, owned by Meta, says the banned accounts were linked to criminal scam centres, particularly in Southeast Asia, that often exploit victims through pyramid schemes and fake investment opportunities. In a blog post, Meta said these scams typically take advantage of people's financial stress, offering "too-good-to-be-true" deals that end up stealing money or personal data. "We don't just react to reported scams—we're now proactively detecting and removing accounts before they become active," WhatsApp common scam begins with a friendly message, sometimes on a dating app, sometimes over text, and quickly moves to platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram or crypto apps. The goal is to keep users bouncing between services so that no single platform sees the full picture of the a recent case, Meta, OpenAI, and WhatsApp collaborated to take down a scam ring operating out of Cambodia. According to Meta, the fraudsters used ChatGPT to write messages with links directing users to WhatsApp chats. Once a victim clicked, they were moved to Telegram, where they were told to "like" TikTok videos for pay, slowly being pulled into a rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme. Eventually, they were asked to deposit money into a crypto account, falsely thinking they were making investments. To stay ahead of these tactics, WhatsApp is rolling out new features designed to help users think twice before engaging. One new tool gives users a clear safety overview when they're added to a group by someone outside their contacts. Users will see key details about the group and can choose to leave without opening the update in testing warns users when they start chatting with someone not in their contact list. The app will show more information about who they might be messaging to help users make safer has also partnered with Rachel Tobac, a cybersecurity expert, to raise awareness. She advises people to "pause, question, and verify" before replying to unknown messages. If something feels suspicious, like a stranger offering fast cash or claiming to be a friend in trouble, it's best to double-check by contacting that person through a known number or another platform."These scammers aren't just annoying, they're organised, relentless, and often tied to serious criminal operations, including forced labour," Meta said in the blog.- EndsMust Watch
CNN
26-07-2025
- Business
- CNN
Here's what cybersecurity experts think about Tea's data breach
The company behind the popular app Tea Dating Advice, which allows women to anonymously share information about the men they date for safety purposes, confirmed on Friday that 72,000 images — including about 13,000 user images submitted during account verification — were accessed in a data storage breach. When creating an account on the Tea app, users are asked to submit a selfie to 'verify that you are a woman.' The app says photos are deleted following account approval. Another 59,000 images that were accessed were 'publicly viewable in the app from posts, comments and direct messages.' Tea said the breach impacted users who registered before February 2024. The breach raises privacy and safety questions about sharing selfies on apps and how users can protect themselves. Rachel Tobac, CEO and co-founder of SocialProof Security, told CNN that while a selfie 'by itself is seemingly innocuous,' it could be used to hack bank accounts and other programs when coupled with government-issued identification. She recommended that Tea users consider freezing their credit, using data brokerage site removal tools, making social media accounts private, using a password manager and multifactor authentication. Tobac said identity verification or age verification has become increasingly popular but is a risky choice for companies. 'Any information that you collect, you have to protect. And the more information you collect, the more interesting of a target you are for cyber criminals,' Tobac said. And accepting facial recognition as the norm can also add to the risk of how law enforcement agencies or hackers can use information against consumers, said Albert Fox Cahn, founder and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. 'We all know online dating can be toxic, but the solution isn't more surveillance,' Cahn said. Cahn recommended that consumers think twice about sharing data with companies because 'opting out is really the best protection we have.' Tea is hardly the first dating-related service to have a security breach. In February 2014, dating app Tinder was revealed to have a technical issue that could provide the physical location of it users without their consent. In July 2015, the company behind Ashley Madison, a dating site for people interested in cheating on their spouses, said hackers had obtained the personal data of millions of members. Some companies and governments have taken action. Tinder offers a verification process using government-issued documents. In May, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law requiring Google and Apple to verify app store users' ages. Selfies and images can be a 'data goldmine' for artificial intelligence-driven data attacks, said Richard Blech, CEO and co-founder of AI security firm XSOC Corp. That data could be used to train facial recognition spoofing, biometric bypassing and deepfakes. Images accessed in a breach could also be used for fraud and other misrepresentations, said Blech. He said anyone whose images were accessed should be more diligent with their credit reports because biometric data 'isn't going to expire.' 'You're not getting a new number or changing your password,' Blech said. 'There's going to be action on that stolen information. There's no question about it.'
