Technology company Meta Platforms has introduced new scam detection tools across its major platforms in a bid to warn users about fraudulent activity before they interact with suspicious accounts. The features are being rolled out on Facebook, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger as part of the company’s broader effort to curb online scams and protect users from emerging digital fraud tactics.
Meta said it is testing alerts on Facebook that will warn users about suspicious friend requests. Under the system, individuals sending or receiving requests from accounts showing unusual behaviour such as very few mutual friends or locations in different countries will see notifications encouraging them to review the request carefully before accepting it. The alerts are intended to help users decide whether to accept, reject or block potentially fraudulent accounts.
On WhatsApp, the company is introducing warnings designed to prevent scammers from tricking users into linking their accounts to a fraudster’s device. According to Meta, scammers sometimes pose as organisers of talent competitions or promotions and ask users to enter their phone numbers on voting websites, after which victims are prompted to provide device linking codes sent to their WhatsApp accounts. The new system will alert users when behavioural signals suggest a linking request could be suspicious and display the origin of the request.
Meta is also expanding its artificial intelligence powered scam detection system on Messenger to additional countries. The tool analyses patterns associated with scams such as fake job offers and suspicious messages from unknown contacts. When a potential scam is detected, users receive warnings and can choose to share recent chat messages for AI analysis, after which the platform may recommend blocking or reporting the account.
The company disclosed that it removed more than 159 million scam advertisements in 2025, with 92 percent taken down before users reported them. It also disabled about 10.9 million Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to criminal scam centres during the year. Working with international law enforcement agencies including the Nigeria Police Force and the National Crime Agency, Meta said it helped dismantle a scam operation in Agbor, Delta State, leading to the arrest of seven suspects accused of targeting victims in the United Kingdom and the United States.