WhatsApp deletes over 6.8M accounts linked to scams
9 months ago
- #scams
- #cybersecurity
- WhatsApp removed 6.8 million scam-linked accounts in the first half of the year.
- Many scams were tied to organized crime groups in Southeast Asia using forced labor.
- New anti-scam measures alert users to suspicious activities like unauthorized group additions.
- Scammers often hijack accounts or promote fake investment schemes in group chats.
- WhatsApp proactively detected and shut down accounts before scams could be executed.
- A Cambodian group used ChatGPT to create scam instructions for a fake pyramid scheme.
- Fraudsters typically start with text messages before moving to private apps.
- Scams often involve upfront payments on payment or cryptocurrency platforms.
- Southeast Asian scam centers cheat victims out of billions and use forced labor.
- Authorities recommend using WhatsApp's two-step verification to protect accounts.