Meta says it has shut down nearly seven million WhatsApp accounts tied to scams in the first half of 2025, targeting criminal networks running fraudulent schemes worldwide. According to WhatsApp’s External Affairs Director, Clair Deevy, the accounts were identified and disabled before they could be used to defraud victims, with most traced to Southeast Asia. The scams ranged from fake cryptocurrency investments to pyramid schemes requiring victims to pay upfront for promised returns.

In one major disruption, Meta and WhatsApp worked with OpenAI to stop a Cambodia-based scam ring that used ChatGPT to craft persuasive scam messages, directing targets to WhatsApp chats via malicious links. Meta has also rolled out new safety features, including prompts warning users when they’re added to unfamiliar group chats and a “safety overview” tool that offers scam-spotting tips and an option to quickly exit suspicious groups.

The company warned users to be cautious when strangers promise easy money, offer low-risk investments, or claim urgent unpaid bills, noting these tactics are designed to exploit trust, goodwill, or fear. “There’s always a catch,” Meta stressed, urging the public to treat such offers as red flags.