Added to a random WhatsApp group? New Safety feature warns you before you join in; here is everything you need to know

WhatsApp has rolled out a new ‘safety overview’ feature to protect users from scams and fraud. The update notifies users whenever someone not in their contact list adds them to an unfamiliar group. The safety overview will display key details about the group, such as its name, participants, creation date, and tips to help users stay safe.

From there, users can choose to exit the group without opening the chat, or, if the group seems familiar after reviewing the information, they can access the chat for more context.

A release from Meta says that in the first half of 2025, the platform banned over 6.8 million accounts linked to criminal scam centres. Here is the gist of the details you need to know.

Q: Why was this feature introduced?

Meta, which owns WhatsApp, says organised crime groups often run criminal scam centres in Southeast Asia and sometimes involve forced labour.

These operations run multiple scams, from fake cryptocurrency investments to pyramid schemes.

Q: How does the new safety overview work?

The safety overview will appear if someone who is not in your contacts adds you to an unfamiliar WhatsApp group.

This new feature shows key information about the group. Depending on it, you can choose to leave immediately without opening the chat.

Notifications stay muted until you confirm you want to stay.

Q: Are there other new protections?

Yes. WhatsApp is testing alerts when you start a chat with someone not in your contacts. The goal is to give you more context about who you’re messaging before you engage.

Q: How big is the scam problem?

In January–June 2025, WhatsApp and Meta’s security teams detected and banned over 6.8 million scam-linked accounts before they could be used. To avoid detection, criminal networks often move victims between platforms, including SMS, dating apps, TikTok, Telegram, and cryptocurrency services.

Q: Can you give an example of a scam case?

Meta says one disrupted campaign was traced to a scam centre in Cambodia. It used ChatGPT to send fake offers via WhatsApp, then moved targets to Telegram and TikTok tasks, before requesting cryptocurrency deposits.

Q: How can users spot scams?

WhatsApp, in collaboration with internet safety expert and ethical hacker Rachel Tobac, recommends three steps: Pause, question, and verify.

Take a moment and pause before responding to unknown numbers. Question any requests for money, PIN codes, or gift cards. Verify the sender's identity using a different communication method.

Q: What’s the overall goal?

Meta says the combination of new tools, proactive account bans, and public safety tips is aimed at making scams easier to detect and harder to execute at scale.