How to protect yourself from 'romance scams' on WhatsApp, Instagram
What's the story
Meta has warned its users about the increasing 'romance scams' on its platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
These scams usually involve fraudsters impersonating potential romantic partners on social media as well as dating apps.
The scammers often masquerade as professionals, military personnel, or business owners to earn the trust of their targets.
They then misuse this trust for financial gain by asking for money or promoting fake investment schemes or crypto tokens.
Scam indicators
How to identify romance scams
Romance scams typically involve whirlwind romances where the scammer professes love for the victim in no time.
They may ask for money in case of emergencies or investment opportunities, and dodge video calls or meetings in person with fake excuses.
Further, their messages may have grammatical errors or inconsistent details.
Unsolicited contact from unknown users is another possible red flag of such scams.
Safety measures
Meta introduces new safety features to combat scams
In light of the increasing romance scams, Meta has launched a number of new safety features across its platforms.
These include safety notices on Messenger warning users if they're chatting with a suspicious account, especially those based overseas.
The company is also testing warnings for teens on Instagram and plans to roll out the feature to more users in the future.
Call blocking
WhatsApp introduces call silencing feature
WhatsApp has also introduced a feature to silence calls from unknown numbers, preventing unwanted contact. This is part of Meta's larger strategy to combat online scams.
The company also uses automated scam detection systems that remove accounts impersonating others and impose restrictions on suspicious users.
All of these measures are aimed at improving user safety and trust on Meta's platforms.
Anti-fraud alliance
Meta's collaboration with Safer Internet India
Meta has also partnered with the Safer Internet India coalition, which consists of telecom, fintech, and digital service providers, to tackle online fraud more effectively.
As part of its ongoing fight against scammers, Meta recently removed over 408,000 fake accounts from countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Benin being used to deceive users globally.