6 days ago
Millions of WhatsApp accounts deleted in scam crackdown
WhatsApp has deleted more than 6.8 million accounts linked to criminal 'pig butchering' scam centres globally.
These scams are operated by organised crime networks, predominantly in Southeast Asia, who force individuals into virtual slavery to defraud victims.
The 'pig butchering' method involves building trusted relationships online, often via text messages or dating apps, to manipulate victims into transferring money into fraudulent investment schemes, frequently using cryptocurrency.
Tech companies, including WhatsApp and OpenAI, have coordinated efforts to disrupt these operations, with OpenAI noting the use of ChatGPT to generate initial scam messages.
WhatsApp's recent action involved proactively detecting and taking down accounts before scam centres could operationalise them, advising users to verify suspicious messages.
