Meta Stops Millions of Accounts Linked to Fraudulent Activities in 2025

Meta has announced the launch of new tools aimed at providing greater protection for WhatsApp and Messenger users from potential fraud.

The company explained that its specialized teams have “discovered and disabled” approximately 8 million accounts linked to fraud networks in countries such as Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines, since the beginning of 2025.

Meta has also taken action against more than 21,000 Facebook pages claiming to offer customer support services for accredited companies, while emphasizing that there is more work to be done to eliminate these operations, especially those targeting the elderly, who may not be sufficiently familiar with technology or modern fraud methods.

In WhatsApp, the company will begin displaying warning notifications to users if they attempt to share their screens with someone not in their contact list during a video call. This step comes in response to the methods of fraudsters who force their victims to share their screens to steal sensitive information. Meta will clearly alert users to the need to share their screens only with people they trust, as they will be able to see any content displayed on their phones, including banking information.

The company is also testing advanced fraud detection tools in Messenger conversations on mobile phones. When a user receives a message that is likely fraudulent, a warning notification will appear informing them that the message is suspicious, with the option to forward it to Meta for review by artificial intelligence.

If Meta discovers a potential fraud, a list will be displayed to the user including common signs of fraud, such as job offers in exchange for money, job offers promising quick gains, and work-from-home offers for jobs that cannot be done remotely. Users will also be reminded not to transfer money or send gift cards, which are common ways fraudsters use to steal money from their victims. At the bottom of the page, users will have the option to report and block the account that sent the message.

Meta has not yet announced a specific date for the widespread launch of the new warning tool in Messenger. Currently, the company encourages users to set up passkeys for quick identity verification, and to activate security checkup to review their security settings and get recommendations, including updating their passwords.