WhatsApp is developing a new safety feature called Scam Alert that is designed to warn users when messages from unknown contacts look potentially fraudulent, according to reports based on the latest beta version of the app.
The feature is said to work entirely on the user’s device, which means message content is not sent to external servers and end-to-end encryption remains intact. If WhatsApp flags a message as suspicious, the app will reportedly show a warning in the chat and let users choose whether to block and report the sender or trust the contact and continue the conversation.
Scam Alert is expected to be optional and disabled by default, requiring users to turn it on manually in settings. Reports also say WhatsApp is testing a transparency log that would let users review when the feature was triggered, with the data stored locally on the device.
The feature has been spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.22.2, though there is no public timeline for a broader rollout. The development comes as Meta continues to expand anti-scam protections across its platforms, including earlier AI-powered measures on WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger.
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