Meta is trialling an AI-powered Scam Alert feature on WhatsApp, aiming to detect and warn users of fraudulent conversations in real-time, amid efforts to enhance platform security against increasingly complex scams.
Meta is testing an artificial intelligence-powered scam warning tool on WhatsApp as it steps up efforts to curb fraud across its messaging and social platforms. According to a report by The Verge, the optional feature, called “Scam Alert”, is designed to flag conversations that may be part of a fraudulent scheme and prompt users with immediate actions such as blocking the sender, reporting the account or carrying on with the chat.
If the warning is triggered by mistake, users can dismiss it for that thread by marking the contact as trusted. WhatsApp will also let people share the last five messages in a chat with the platform to help improve the system, a sign that Meta is still refining how aggressively it wants the tool to intervene.
The test builds on a wider anti-scam push Meta unveiled in March, when the company said it was deploying AI-based defences across WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger. In that announcement, Meta said it was adding warnings for suspicious device-linking requests on WhatsApp and alerts for questionable friend requests on Facebook, while expanding scam detection in Messenger. The company also said it removed more than 159 million scam ads globally in 2025.
Meta has increasingly focused on the kind of deception that exploits platform features rather than obvious spam, including attempts to trick users into linking devices or sharing access codes. Security researchers and app watchdogs have warned that such tactics can let criminals read messages or impersonate account holders, which makes early warnings particularly important. The latest WhatsApp test suggests Meta is now trying to catch those schemes inside live conversations, rather than only at the point of account setup.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
