Meta announced Tuesday that it has shut down nearly 7 million WhatsApp accounts linked to scam operations during the first half of 2025, as part of an ongoing effort to curb fraudulent activity on the messaging platform.
The company said it proactively identified and disabled 6.8 million scam-related accounts, many of them operating out of Southeast Asia, before they could be used by criminal networks.
“Our team identified the accounts and disabled them before the criminal organizations that created them could use them,” said Clair Deevy, WhatsApp’s Director of External Affairs.
Organized criminal groups are running various scams on WhatsApp, including fake cryptocurrency investments and get-rich-quick pyramid schemes, company executives said during a media briefing.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, also warned users to watch out for common scam tactics. One key warning sign is when scammers ask for money upfront in exchange for promised returns, which is often part of a fraudulent scheme.
In one major case, Meta and OpenAI shut down a scam ring in Cambodia that used ChatGPT to write fake WhatsApp messages. These messages included links designed to lure users into fake investment groups.
To improve user safety, WhatsApp introduced new features. These include alerts when someone adds you to an unknown group chat. A new “Safety Overview” section now helps users review group details, identify scams on WhatsApp, and leave risky conversations quickly.
Meta said in a blog post, “We’ve all seen it—messages from strangers offering low-risk investments, easy money, or claims about unpaid bills. These are obvious signs of scams.”
Meta continues to shut down scams on WhatsApp and block WhatsApp accounts as it strengthens security against evolving scam tactics.
