Meta reported that more than 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts involved in scam operations were blocked during the first half of this year.
The firm said that as part of its ongoing efforts to protect users from scams, more than 6.8 million accounts linked to scam centers were detected and blocked by WhatsApp.
According to Meta, the accounts were blocked before they could be widely used as a result of detailed investigations and enhanced enforcement measures.
Scam centers often run multiple schemes simultaneously, such as cryptocurrency scams and pyramid schemes.
Among the common warning signs is a request for an upfront payment as a condition of receiving promised returns or income.
The platform has also introduced a ‘safety review’ feature for group chat activity that will be activated when a user is added to a group that they are not in their contacts.
The review provides information about the group and safety tips that allow users to leave without being noticed. Group notifications will also be muted so that users are not aware that they are still in the group.
Meta advises users to always be vigilant when contacted by unknown individuals online, especially those asking for money or personal information.
