WhatsApp rolls out scam warning feature for unknown chats

WhatsApp has introduced a new security feature designed to protect users from fraud and suspicious messages. The feature will warn users about unknown phone numbers before they even open a chat helping them identify potentially fraudulent contacts in advance.

According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is rolling out a new security feature that aims to help users recognize suspicious contacts before interacting with them. The feature will be available on both Android and iOS devices. Under the new system, whenever a user tries to open or start a conversation with a phone number that is not saved in their contacts, a warning screen will appear before the chat opens.

The warning screen provides additional information about the unknown contact and encourages users to verify whether the sender appears genuine and trustworthy before engaging in a conversation. This latest update strengthens WhatsApp’s existing security measures by making it more difficult for scammers to trick users into giving them access to their accounts.

Instead of stealing passwords directly, scammers usually rely on social engineering. They persuade users to enter their own verification codes or approve requests that allow criminals to link another device to the victim’s WhatsApp account. The new security feature is designed to intervene before users complete these actions reducing the chances of scammers gaining unauthorized access to their accounts.

According to WABetaInfo: “This WhatsApp security feature available on both iOS and Android makes it harder for scammers to convince people to grant access to their accounts. Scammers don’t need your password—they simply want you to enter a verification code or approve a request. WhatsApp now steps in at the exact moment when that code could give them access to your account.”

The warning screen also displays useful details about the unknown contact including:

The phone number’s country code.
Whether you and the sender share any mutual WhatsApp groups.

This information helps users decide whether the contact appears legitimate before starting a conversation. If a contact seems suspicious, users can block or report the number immediately without opening the chat. Previously, some of WhatsApp’s security prompts only appeared after a chat had already been opened.

By moving the warning to the earliest stage, WhatsApp aims to give users more time and more information to make informed decisions before interacting with unknown contacts. The feature is being rolled out gradually to WhatsApp users on both Android and iOS devices.