In a move to crackdown on criminal messaging networks on its mobile social media app, Meta-owned platform WhatsApp, has banned over 6.8 million accounts that have been linked to global scam operations, with the detected accounts removed from its platform in the first half of 2025.

WhatsApp made the revelation in a statement on Monday and stated that the affected accounts were linked to scam centres that deploy tactics such as deepfakes, cloned voices, and cross-platform fraud.

According to Meta’s vice-president of public policy for Africa, Middle East and Türkiye, Kojo Boakye, the new wave of enforcement is part of broader efforts to disrupt coordinated scams before they spread.

He said, “This is part of our unwavering commitment to protect our users, not just by banning malicious accounts, but by empowering individuals with the tools and knowledge they need to recognise and avoid these sophisticated threats."

On its new updates, the platform announced an in-app features that will help users to better identify suspicious contacts and avoid falling victim to fraud, such as seeing more context before engaging with unknown senders, especially when added to group chats by people outside their contact list.

WhatsApp saud it is also working to encourage users to “pause, question, and verify” before responding to messages that appear unusual or demand urgent action, such as requests for money, gift cards or personal information.

The update also highlighted a cross-industry collaboration involving Meta, WhatsApp and OpenAI to take down a scam ring in Cambodia that reportedly used AI-generated messages to lure users from WhatsApp to other platforms, eventually coercing them into depositing funds into cryptocurrency accounts.

WhatsApp said more safety updates are underway and urged users to remain cautious, particularly when contacted by unknown numbers.

#penglobalcrime #socialmedia #WhatsApp #Meta