Meta is working on a new scam detection feature for WhatsApp called Scam Alert. The tool is designed to detect potentially fraudulent messages from unknown senders while preserving end-to-end encryption and without transmitting message content to any servers.
The feature was recently spotted by WABetaInfo in WhatsApp beta for Android. There is no announced release date, and the feature is still in development and not yet available to all users.
How WhatsApp’s new scam alert feature works
Scam Alert works perfectly on your device. WhatsApp does not send messages to external servers for analysis. The system checks for messages coming from contacts not saved in your address book and shows a warning within the chat if potentially scam activity is detected.
This method is similar to WhatsApp’s existing voice transcription feature, which works entirely on the device without sending the audio file to the server.
When Scam Alert detects a potential scam, a warning appears directly in the chat. Users have full control and can choose to block and report the contact or dismiss the warning and continue the conversation. This feature does not block communication with unknown contacts.
Local logs are created on your device to record when Scam Alerts flag potential scam activity. These logs remain stored locally and are not sent anywhere else.
Why default settings, privacy guarantees, and scam alerts matter to users
According to WABetaInfo, the scam alert will be disabled by default, meaning users will have to choose to activate it. This allows users who do not want any message analysis to continue unaffected, even on their own device.
Since analysis occurs locally and messages remain end-to-end encrypted, Meta does not have access to message content through this feature.
WhatsApp scam messages from unknown numbers impersonating banks, government agencies or delivery services remain a common issue.
Currently, protection depends on users recognizing spam and reporting it manually. Adding an automated alerting system that detects suspicious patterns before the user responds will provide an additional layer of protection, especially for those who are less familiar with typical scam tactics.
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