New Delhi — Meta has announced new safety measures across its apps, including WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, aimed at helping users — particularly older adults — identify and avoid online scams.
The company said the new tools are part of its broader effort to address the growing problem of online fraud, which often targets senior citizens. The features include alerts, privacy options and educational campaigns in partnership with public bodies.
On WhatsApp, users will now receive warnings if they try to share their screen during a video call with someone not saved in their contacts. Screen sharing allows others to see what is displayed on a user’s phone and Meta said the warning is designed to prevent scammers from gaining access to private information such as bank details or verification codes.
On Messenger, Meta is testing a scam detection system that uses artificial intelligence to flag potentially fraudulent messages. When the feature is enabled, users will be warned if a new contact sends a suspicious message and will have the option to share recent chats for review.
If a scam is suspected, users will receive information on common scams and suggestions for what to do next, such as blocking or reporting the account.
Meta safety checks and partnerships
Meta said users can now set up Passkeys, a security feature that allows them to log in using their fingerprint, face, or PIN instead of a password. It is available on Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp.
Users can also review their account security through Security Checkup on Facebook and Instagram, and Privacy Checkup on WhatsApp, which help people control who can add them to groups and how their personal details are shared.
The company said collaboration with law enforcement and government agencies remains central to tackling scams that operate across multiple platforms.
Meta has worked with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to expand its “Scams Se Bacho” campaign, which produces multilingual educational videos for senior citizens on how to recognise and report online scams.
It also supports the Saksham Senior initiative, which provides training and digital literacy sessions for older adults in several Indian cities. These programmes teach safe technology use, scam prevention, and misinformation awareness.
Action against fraudulent accounts
Meta said it continues to block accounts linked to organised scam operations. In the first half of 2025, the company said it identified and removed around eight million accounts connected to scam centres in countries such as Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines.
It also took down about 21,000 pages and accounts posing as customer service representatives.
The company urged users, particularly older adults, to stay alert to unsolicited messages and avoid sharing personal or financial information in response to unexpected requests.
Meta also advised people to confirm with family members or official sources before responding to suspicious calls or messages.
