WhatsApp and Messenger add new warnings to help older people avoid online scams

Tuesday meta introduced The new scam detection feature for its messaging apps, WhatsApp and Messenger, is part of a broader initiative to crack down on online scams targeting seniors. The company said it will start showing alerts on WhatsApp when users try to share their screen during calls, and it will flag potential scam messages on Messenger, which can be sent to AI for review.

The tech giant said it identified and disrupted nearly 8 million accounts involved in scam operations in the first half of 2025, including those linked to scam centers in regions such as Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines. It took action on more than 21,000 Facebook pages and accounts pretending to be customer support operations that were trying to trick people into sharing their information.

The latter is so prevalent on the platform that many page operators basically know to ignore anything that claims to be a customer support message. Meanwhile, scam syndicates target older adults in a variety of industries, including not just social media, but messaging apps, dating apps, crypto, and others.

On WhatsApp, the company will now display a warning when you try to share your screen with an unknown contact during a video call. The technique is often used to trick victims into giving away sensitive information such as bank details and verification codes, Meta said.

Meanwhile, on Messenger, the company is testing more advanced scam detection techniques to analyze whether an incoming message is suspicious. If so, it flags that signs of a scam have been detected and warns you “be careful, you may be at risk of losing money.”

The screen also lists several common scam tactics, such as those involving work-from-home or easy cash-making offers, and will suggest blocking or reporting suspicious accounts.

My own family members have fallen victim to these types of scams, and it’s fair to say that these issues can have a wider impact than just the person they affect. Families often get involved, which embarrasses victims or leaves them digging in their heels, believing the scam to be some kind of real opportunity.

Scammers often use social engineering techniques or romantic interests to lure victims who are not online savvy or who suffer from early dementia. They often notice lonely people and appreciate attention. Scammers take advantage of these factors to milk seniors out of their life savings.

Meta should have done more to address these concerns on its platforms earlier, especially given how easy it is to add alerts or warnings to the user experience in apps. While it may not have access to more sophisticated AI technology to review potential scams, even informative alerts can reduce some of the earlier abuses.

The tech giant says it is also joining National Veterans Fraud Coordination CenterA new nonprofit that brings law enforcement together with companies like AARP, Amazon, Capital One, Google, Microsoft, and Walmart to fight fraud targeting older adults.