Meta tests new AI-powered scam alerts on WhatsApp
Optional feature warns users about suspected fraud in real time and offers quick options to block, report or continue conversations
Washington: Meta has begun testing a new artificial intelligence-powered feature on WhatsApp designed to help users identify and avoid potential scams.
According to a report by technology publication The Verge, the optional tool, called Scam Alert, is being rolled out as a limited test and is designed to detect potentially fraudulent conversations in real time.
When the system identifies signs of a possible scam, WhatsApp displays a warning banner within the chat, giving users the option to:
- Block the contact
- Report the account
- Continue the conversation
If users believe the alert was triggered incorrectly, they can mark the conversation as trusted, which will dismiss the warning for that specific chat thread.
Users may also choose to share the last five messages of the conversation with WhatsApp to help improve the feature's accuracy and effectiveness.
The latest rollout follows Meta's launch earlier this year of an automated scam-detection tool that flags suspicious linked-device requests on WhatsApp.
The move forms part of Meta's broader efforts to strengthen user protection and combat online fraud across its messaging platforms.