Meta says WhatApp has removed over 6.8m accounts linked to scams
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has announced that it removed over 6.8 million accounts linked to scams in the first half of 2025. This is part of a sweeping global crackdown on cyber fraud operations.
According to Meta, many of these accounts were tied to scam centres operated by organised criminal groups in Southeast Asia, particularly in countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. These operations often involve forced labour, with individuals coerced into executing online scams.
The move comes as WhatsApp introduces new anti-scam tools to alert users to suspicious activity. One such feature notifies users when they are added to a group chat by someone not on their contact list. A tactic increasingly exploited by scammers to promote fraudulent investment schemes and pyramid scams.
Meta emphasised that the deleted accounts were detected proactively, before they could be fully used by scammers. In one notable case, WhatsApp collaborated with Meta’s wider security team and OpenAI to disrupt a Cambodian syndicate running a fake “rent-a-scooter” pyramid scheme. Fraudsters had used ChatGPT to craft convincing messages and instructions for potential victims.“These scams typically begin with a text message and then shift to private messaging platforms. The end goal is often to extract money through cryptocurrency or digital payment platforms,” Meta noted. “The telltale sign is always an upfront payment in exchange for promised returns—this should be a major red flag.”Authorities across the region have called for heightened vigilance. Singaporean police, for instance, have urged users to be wary of unusual messages or requests and to enable WhatsApp’s two-step verification to guard against account hijacking.
Meta reaffirmed its commitment to user safety and said it will continue investing in tools to detect and prevent fraud across its platforms.