This could save you from scammers: New AI tools are coming to WhatsApp and Facebook

“Fraudsters are constantly developing their tactics – and so are we. Every day, criminals use more and more sophisticated measures to deceive people on our platforms and across the Internet,” said Meta in an official announcement.

Real-time alerts become key

One of the most important innovations are proactive alerts that provide users with key information at a crucial moment. Facebook is thus testing new warnings for suspicious friend requests. The system will notify you if the request comes from an account that shows certain signs of risk, for example if you have no friends in common with that person, if the location is listed on the profile in another country, or if the account was recently created. The goal is to encourage users to think twice before accepting a request that could lead to unwanted interactions.

Similar improvements are coming to WhatsApp. The app will now display more detailed warnings when trying to connect your computer to a new device. Fraudsters often try to persuade victims to scan a QR code or share a verification code in order to gain access to their account. The new system will alert you if a connection request shows suspicious signals and show you where the request is coming from, giving you a chance to stop a fraud attempt. Additionally, WhatsApp will display a warning if you try to share your screen during a video call with an unknown contact, which is a common tactic for stealing bank details and passwords.

Messenger is also getting more advanced fraud detection, which is being rolled out in more and more countries. When you start a conversation with a new contact, and the system recognizes patterns in the messages typical of fraud, such as fake job offers or suspicious investment schemes, the application will warn you. It will also offer you the option to send recent messages for additional AI analysis to confirm the suspicion.

Artificial intelligence as a fraud hunter

Behind these useful tools are advanced artificial intelligence systems developed by Meta to combat subtle and deceptive tactics that traditional systems have difficulty detecting. AI can now analyze multiple signals – text, images and surrounding context – to spot sophisticated fraud patterns faster and at greater scale.

One of the key areas is fraud detection. Artificial intelligence powers Meta’s ability to recognize accounts that are impersonating celebrities, public figures or brands. By analyzing elements such as false fan sentiment or misleading biographies, the system can more effectively recognize and remove fake profiles. In addition, AI proactively detects content that redirects users to fake websites designed to mimic legitimate portals, thus protecting thousands of brands from misuse. In order to further increase security in its advertising ecosystem, Meta plans to expand the verification of advertising with the goal that by the end of 2026, verified advertising will account for 90 percent of advertising revenue.

Offensive on global criminal networks

In addition to technological solutions, Meta also works aggressively against organized criminal groups. The company announced that last year alone it removed more than 159 million fraudulent ads and shut down 10.9 million Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to fraudulent networks. Recently, in cooperation with global police agencies, they participated in a major operation that resulted in the shutdown of more than 150 thousand accounts linked to crime centers in Southeast Asia. These groups used sophisticated methods, including fake “digital arrests” via video calls and the promotion of fake crypto investments.