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Most Accounts Were Controlled by Southeast Asian Gangs; Actions Involved Cryptocurrency Fraud, Pyramid Schemes, and Use of ChatGPT
Meta announced the closure of 6.8 million accounts on WhatsApp linked to scam schemes during the first half of 2025. The action is part of a company offensive against criminal activities on Brazil’s most popular messaging app.
According to the company, the accounts were identified and removed before they could be widely used, preventing thousands of users from falling victim. The accounts predominantly originated in the southeast Asia, but targeted users worldwide with investment promises, easy profits, and fake charges.
Who Is Behind the Scams and How Do They Work?
According to Meta, the attacks are often organized by international gangs specialized in social engineering. Tactics range from financial pyramids to fake cryptocurrency schemes and, more recently, the use of artificial intelligence to generate automated messages with malicious links.
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One of the dismantled scams was traced back to Cambodia, where criminals used ChatGPT to create personalized messages with links to WhatsApp. When clicked, victims were added to groups with false profit promises, where emotional engagement was exploited to convince them to make transfers.
What New Measures Is WhatsApp Taking?
In addition to the mass removal of WhatsApp accounts, the company began testing this week “security summaries” to alert users when they are added to groups by unknown people. The feature shows information about the group and allows users to exit immediately.
Preventive tips have also been issued, such as being wary of messages with urgency, offers of easy money, or requests for upfront payment.
According to Clair Deevy, WhatsApp’s director of external affairs, the main advice is simple: “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is a scam.”
Where Are These Scams Concentrated?
Although the origin of the accounts is mostly outside Brazil, the scams particularly target countries with a large number of WhatsApp users, such as India and Brazil.
The easy access to the platform, the app’s popularity, and the sharing of mass messages facilitate dissemination.
Many of these attacks simulate debt collection, job opportunities, or invitations for exclusive investments. Common to all, they require a quick action from the victim, which hinders rational judgment.
Have you received suspicious messages or been added to unknown groups on WhatsApp? How do you identify a potential scam? Share your experience in the comments; your story can help others avoid traps.
