WhatsApp on Tuesday unveiled new safety features designed to protect users worldwide from sophisticated messaging scams. The announcement was made by Kojo Boakye, Vice President of WhatsApp Public Policy for Africa, the Middle East, and Türkiye at Meta.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/idrinstitute.png")
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
Boakye highlighted that in the first half of 2025, WhatsApp banned over 6.8 million accounts linked to criminal scam centers. “The fight against scams is a relentless one, and we are continually evolving our defenses to stay ahead of bad actors,” he said.
Criminal scam centers often run multiple campaigns simultaneously, including fake cryptocurrency investments and pyramid schemes. These scams typically begin on dating apps or text messages, move to social media and private messaging apps like WhatsApp, and culminate on payment or crypto platforms demanding upfront payments for promised returns.
In a recent cross-industry collaboration, WhatsApp, Meta, and OpenAI dismantled a scam network in Cambodia that exploited ChatGPT to draft initial messages. Victims were lured to WhatsApp and then moved to Telegram, where they were tasked with liking TikTok videos before being pressured to deposit money into crypto accounts.
To strengthen protection, WhatsApp is rolling out new safety features:
- Users added to unfamiliar groups by contacts not in their address book will see a safety overview with group details and tips, and notifications from such groups will remain muted until users choose to engage.
- Testing new alerts for messages from unknown contacts, providing context about the sender to help users decide how to respond.
WhatsApp urges users to adopt a “Pause, Question, Verify” approach to suspicious messages: take time to consider, question the legitimacy, and verify the sender’s identity through alternative communication before acting.
“History of Rivers State Judiciary: A Compendium of Personalities on the Bench.” Authored by Ampim Gogo Blankson, Esq., Deputy Director at the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the Rivers State Judiciary 💰 Cover Price: ₦20,000.00 (Twenty Thousand Naira) Bukky Law Books, Rivers State High Court Complex, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt – 📞 08034868754📞 08034729738📞 Enquiries ______________________________________________________________________ Law Practice Kit (Second Edition) And Legal Luminaries Series 2 Unveiled 
Authored by Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, LL.M, Notary Public Law Practice Kit (Second Edition) and Legal Luminaries Series 2 📚 For Enquiries and Orders, Contact: 📞 08055476823, 📞 08164683735, 📞 08033855230 _____________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials 
