Meta announces new safety tools to curb scams on WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and other platforms

Meta

Meta has announced new anti-scam features and public awareness programmes to protect people online, with a strong emphasis on senior citizens who remain a prime target for digital fraud. The rollout spans WhatsApp, Messenger, Facebook and Instagram, and comes amid rising incidents of social-engineering scams targeting older adults.

New safeguards across Meta apps

On WhatsApp, screen-sharing alerts will now appear when users attempt to share their screen with an unknown caller during a video call — a tactic commonly used by scammers to capture financial credentials and OTPs. On Messenger, Meta is testing AI-driven scam detection for chats with new contacts, enabling users to send recent messages for AI review. If risk signals are detected, users receive scenario-specific guidance and options to block or report.

Passkeys are now supported across Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp to let users sign in with device-level authentication such as fingerprint or face verification. Meta is also nudging people to use Security Checkup on Facebook and Instagram and Privacy Checkup on WhatsApp to review access and contact settings from one place.

Collaborations and awareness for seniors in India

Because scam networks span multiple apps and jurisdictions, Meta said it is working with external partners. In India, it has expanded its “Scams Se Bacho” campaign with the Department of Telecommunications, producing multilingual video content designed for older adults to recognise and avoid fraud.

Meta is also supporting Saksham Senior — a senior-oriented initiative that runs digital literacy and safety sessions at senior living homes, RWAs, clubs and online groups, helping older adults identify scams, misinformation and risky interactions.

Taking down scam infrastructures

Meta reported that in the first half of 2025, its teams disrupted around 8 million accounts tied to scam centres in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the UAE and the Philippines. It also removed over 21,000 pages and accounts posing as customer support to lure victims into revealing sensitive information.

Safety advice for older adults and families

Meta recommends exercising caution with unsolicited messages and refusing to share bank numbers, PINs or OTPs on calls or chats. Older adults are advised to pause when pressured to act quickly and verify with a trusted contact before responding. Users are also encouraged to rely only on official customer care channels instead of links shared by strangers or replies on public forums.