WhatsApp removes 6.8m fraudulent accounts

Spread the love

Many deleted accounts connected to scam centres in Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand

Life

Image: WhatsApp

Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has removed more than 6.8 million accounts linked to scams, often carried out by organised crime groups in Southeast Asia. The messaging app is now rolling out new features to better protect users against this growing form of digital fraud.

According to Meta, many of the deleted accounts are connected to scam centres in countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand. These centers are often run by criminal networks and make use of forced labor. Victims are coerced into promoting fake investment schemes and other fraudulent activities via messaging apps like WhatsApp.

These large-scale operations are believed to have already generated billions of dollars worldwide. In many cases, the scam begins with an SMS or message from an unknown sender, followed by contact through social media or private messaging apps, and ultimately financial transactions via payment or crypto platforms.

To better equip users against these practices, WhatsApp is introducing new security measures. One of the most notable features is a warning when someone who is not in your contacts adds you to a group chat. This is a common tactic used in fraud attempts.

Meta also urges users to be alert for ‘red flags’, such as requests for advance payments in exchange for a supposed refund or return. The company further advises enabling two-step verification for extra security.

Meta emphasises that it removes many fraudulent accounts before they become operational. In a notable collaboration with OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, a criminal gang in Cambodia was recently dismantled. The group used AI to generate convincing texts for a fraudulent pyramid scheme involving scooter rentals. They offered users money in exchange for ‘likes’ on social media to build credibility.

Governments in Southeast Asia are meanwhile running campaigns to raise public awareness about the dangers of online scams. In Singapore, for example, police have urged users to be cautious with unusual requests via messaging apps. The focus is on prevention, including the active use of security features such as two-step verification.

Newsmonkey

Read More: Social networks WhatsApp