WhatsApp scam links deceive users as Meta launches on-device Scam Alert

Scammers send WhatsApp messages that contain links appearing to belong to the official app, using look‑alike characters (e.g., a different “w”) to trick users. The pages request account credentials, verification codes, or prompt the download of malicious apps, enabling attackers to take over accounts or steal personal data. WhatsApp warns that such links can bypass the preview and display a warning when unusual characters are detected.

Meta has introduced a new feature called Scam Alert that analyses incoming messages locally on the device, preserving end‑to‑end encryption. When a message from an unknown number contains typical fraud patterns—urgent requests, verification code prompts, or spoofed URLs—the app shows a warning and offers options to block or report the sender. The tool is in beta for Android, optional and disabled by default. It arrives as WhatsApp becomes a favored channel for cyber‑crime in Spain, where a recent operation recovered €1.4 million stolen from 320 victims. The on‑device approach aims to curb such scams without exposing message content to Meta’s servers.