WhatsApp Deleted 6.8 Million Accounts Linked to Scam Schemes

• WhatsApp deleted 6.8 million accounts linked to scams.
• Criminal groups in Southeast Asia are exploiting vulnerable labor resources.
• The company has implemented new measures to protect users from scams.

WhatsApp reported that in the first half of 2025, it deleted 6.8 million accounts connected to scams that aim to defraud people worldwide. The majority of these accounts were linked to scam schemes organized by criminal groups operating in Southeast Asia.

The company has taken action in response to the growing trend of criminals hijacking WhatsApp accounts or adding users to group chats to promote fraudulent investment schemes. WhatsApp has developed new anti-scam measures to warn users about potential scams, including when a user is added to a group of people not in their contact list.

The company noted that they "proactively identified and removed accounts, primarily before the scammers could activate them." In collaboration with Meta and OpenAI, WhatsApp is working to stop scams linked to a Cambodian criminal group that promoted money laundering via fake investment schemes on social media.

Typically, scammers first reach out to potential victims through text messages and then move to social media or private messengers. Scams usually conclude on payment platforms or cryptocurrencies.

Authorities in the region are urging people to be cautious and implement measures against scams, such as two-step verification, to protect their accounts from potential hijacking.

In Singapore, for instance, police have warned users to be cautious with unusual requests they receive in messengers.

Tags: Technology/Crime