August 6, 2025 | 11:15 pm
Meta has announced that it has blocked 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts connected to scam perpetrators. According to the company, some of the most prolific and organized scams originate in Southeast Asia, with one major hub located in Cambodia.
"Based on our investigative insights into the latest enforcement efforts, we proactively detected and took down accounts before scam centres were able to operationalise them," Meta wrote in its official blog on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
How the Scams Work
The revealed scam tactics range from fraudulent cryptocurrency investment offers to Ponzi schemes delivered via text messages. Users are often asked to make an upfront payment to receive promised returns or results. Perpetrators also send messages to various users across multiple platforms to make detection more difficult.
To support these criminal activities, text messages are reportedly generated using OpenAI's ChatGPT. These messages often direct users to switch to the Telegram app, where they are gathered in a group and given simple tasks, such as liking videos on TikTok.
"The scammers attempted to build trust in their scheme by sharing how much the target has already ‘earned’ in theory, before asking them to deposit money into a crypto account as the next task," Meta disclosed.
New Security Features for Group Members
To combat these scams, Meta has introduced a new security summary feature for every group. This tool will provide a summary of the group and continuously inform invited users about its context.
Additionally, a new notification system will alert users when they send messages to unsaved numbers, providing additional context when communicating with these unfamiliar accounts.
"To protect against these tactics, we are continuously testing new approaches to warn people to pause before they get trapped," Meta wrote.
To help users avoid falling victim to scams, Meta offers the following advice:
Take time before responding to accounts that initiate contact.
Carefully consider all messages, especially requests for money, gifts, or PIN codes.
Be wary of job offers that promise high pay for unrealistic work requirements.
If a scammer claims to be a friend or family member, make sure that the account belongs to someone known by contacting them through other channels, such as SMS or phone calls on saved contacts.
Editor's Choice: Study Reveals Indonesians Receive 16 Spam Calls per Month
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Thailand Denies Assassination Plot Against Hun Sen and Hun Manet
1 jam lalu
The Thai Ministry condemned the disinformation as a dangerous attempt to sabotage ongoing diplomatic efforts between Thailand and Cambodia.
Thailand Sues Cambodia Over Cross-Border Attack
6 jam lalu
Thailand has initiated legal action against Cambodia for damages resulting from border attacks that harmed civilians and military personnel.
Malaysia Hosts Border Talks Between Thailand and Cambodia
2 hari lalu
Thailand and Cambodia have started technical discussions in Malaysia to resolve the border dispute, ahead of the official meeting of the GBC on August 7, 2025.
ASEAN Team Deployed to Monitor Cambodia-Thailand Border Following Ceasefire
2 hari lalu
A temporary military observer team from ASEAN inspected conflict-affected areas along the Cambodia-Thailand border after a ceasefire was established.
Thai People Demand PM Shinawatra Resign Over War with Cambodia
3 hari lalu
PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra is being pressured to resign due to the war between Thailand and Cambodia ignited by border issues.
65% of Indonesians Targeted by Scam Attempts Weekly
5 hari lalu
Scams can take many forms, ranging from fake job offers to investment fraud.
Thailand Declines Cambodia's Demand to Repatriate 18 Soldiers
5 hari lalu
Thailand rejected the Cambodian PM's request to immediately repatriate the 18 soldiers who were detained for illegally entering the country.
Cambodia Turns to Malaysia for Assistance to Secure Release of Soldiers Held in Thailand
6 hari lalu
Cambodia asks Malaysia to help secure the release of about 20 of its soldiers currently held in Thai military detention.
Malaysia Deploys Team to Monitor Cambodia-Thailand Ceasefire
6 hari lalu
Malaysia sends a monitoring team to monitor the Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire.
Meta Hints at Restricting Public Access to Certain AI Superintelligence Models
6 hari lalu
Meta is very strict about mitigating risks and is careful about which technologies it opens source.
