Suzanne Kantra/Techlicious generated by ChatGPT
WhatsApp has begun testing Scam Alert, a new feature that checks incoming messages for signs of a scam and warns you before you respond. When the model flags a likely scam, you'll see a notice inside the chat with options to block the sender, report them, or continue the conversation anyway.
If you think a warning was wrong, you can mark that chat as trusted, and WhatsApp won't flag it again. From a trusted chat, you can also choose to share the last five messages with WhatsApp to help improve the feature.
Scam Alert is rolling out now as a limited beta, starting with members of WhatsApp's Bug Bounty research community, so it will likely be a while before it reaches most phones. It's optional, and WhatsApp says users will be able to turn it off at any time.
This adds to other anti-scam features Meta has built into WhatsApp this year, including a warning system for suspicious device-linking requests aimed at preventing account takeovers, and "Strict Account Settings," a lockdown mode designed for journalists, activists, and other high-risk users.
With over 3 billion people using WhatsApp worldwide, scams sent through the app (fake delivery notices, phony job offers, romance scams) reach an enormous number of people every day. Once Scam Alert update reaches your phone, it's worth leaving it on.
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