During the first half of 2025, WhatsApp took down around 6.8 million accounts linked to scams, mainly in South Asia, as part of a significant effort against cyber fraud. The company also unveiled new security features aimed at curbing criminal activities.

Scammers’ Tactics

Threat actors were using tactics such as adding unsuspecting users’ phone numbers to WhatsApp group chats, promising lucrative returns from crypto investments. Many of the deleted accounts were connected to organized crime rings operating in countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, reported that these scam centers often rely on forced labor for their operations.

Analyst Insights

Suzanne Sando, a Lead Analyst at Javelin Strategy & Research, commented that while taking down fraudulent accounts is a positive step, the extensive nature of these scam rings suggests it won’t be easy to dismantle them completely. She said, “Scammers won’t be deterred by this action, and they will likely find other ways to reach potential victims.”

Enhanced Group Chat Protections

WhatsApp introduced measures to help users identify scams. One feature is an alert that notifies the user when someone outside their contact list adds them to a group chat. According to Sando, this could be more effective than merely removing existing scam accounts. She noted, “Allowing users to leave a conversation without entering it removes risks of responding to messages or clicking on malicious links.”

ID Verification and Future Controls

A key area that needs improvement is the background ID verification process at WhatsApp, which could serve as a powerful deterrent against fraud. Sando asked, “Will there be stronger controls in place moving forward to prevent bad actors from signing up? Conversely, how many of these accounts started out as valid ones but were pressured into participating in scam operations?”