WhatsApp Rolls Out Scam Alert: AI-powered Scam Detection Directly in the App

The new feature, Scam Alert, uses a locally stored machine learning model to analyze incoming messages from unknown numbers. If it detects patterns typical of scams, such as pressure to make a quick payment or attempts to extract verification codes, it displays a warning directly in the chat. According to Meta, this detection does not compromise end-to-end encryption or send messages to their servers.

The Czech Bank Association highlights the high damage caused by cyber scams, with scammers using communication apps to spread messages like ‘I have a new number, send money’ or fake investment offers. Scam Alert aims to catch victims in the moment of impulsive reaction, before they verify the sender’s identity.

The model works locally on the device, analyzing conversation structure and language patterns. If it classifies a conversation as likely a scam, the user sees a warning with options to block, report, or mark the chat as trustworthy. Users can also voluntarily send the last five messages to help improve the model’s accuracy.