Meta introduces new scam detection features across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger

Meta said on Wednesday that it is introducing additional scam detection features across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger. The company said these new tools are meant to warn users before they interact with something potentially suspicious, adding that scammers often try to stay under the radar and may not use accounts maliciously right away.

On Facebook, Meta is testing new alerts designed to warn users about suspicious friend requests. If you send or receive a request from an account that shows signs of unusual activity — such as having very few mutual friends or showing a different country as its listed location — you may see an alert encouraging you to review the request more carefully so you can decide whether to accept it or block the account.

On WhatsApp, Meta is launching device-linking warnings to stop scammers from tricking users into linking their WhatsApp accounts to devices controlled by others.

“For example, they may pose as a talent competition asking you to cast your vote by going to a website and entering your phone number, followed by a device linking code on your WhatsApp,” Meta said in a blog post. “They may also try to trick you into scanning a QR code under pretences, which would then link the scammer’s device to your account. To stay ahead of these tactics, WhatsApp will now alert you when behavioural signals suggest a linking request might be suspicious.”

These warnings will show users where the request is coming from and caution them that it may be part of a scam attempt.

For Messenger, Meta said it is expanding its advanced scam detection feature to more countries this month, though it did not specify which ones.

With advanced scam detection enabled, when a conversation with a new contact includes patterns that are often linked to scams — such as suspicious job offers — Meta will warn the user and ask whether they want to share recent chat messages for an AI-based scam review. If the system identifies signs of a scam, Meta will encourage the user to block or report the suspicious account. The company will also provide users with more information about common scam tactics.

As part of the announcement, Meta said it removed more than 159 million scam ads last year, and 92% of those were taken down before anyone reported them. The company also said it removed 10.9 million accounts across Facebook and Instagram that were tied to criminal scam centres.