IntelScoops

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Meta has taken down nearly 7 million WhatsApp accounts in the first half of 2025 as part of an intensified effort to dismantle scam networks operating across the messaging platform. The company confirmed Tuesday that the banned accounts were detected and removed before criminal organizations could fully activate or exploit them.

“These weren’t just random individuals — they were part of well-organised criminal operations,” said Clair Deevy, Director of External Affairs at WhatsApp. “Our team identified the accounts and disabled them proactively.”

The scams, many of which originated from Southeast Asia, ranged from fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes to elaborate get-rich-quick pyramid operations, executives revealed during a briefing.

A Red Flag for Users

In a blog post accompanying the announcement, WhatsApp warned users to be vigilant against any scheme that demands upfront payments in exchange for promised returns. “There is always a catch and it should be a red flag for everyone: you have to pay upfront to get promised returns or earnings,” the platform cautioned.

The 6.8 million accounts were linked to so-called scam centers, which have increasingly relied on social engineering tactics and automation to target users, often using compromised or freshly registered phone numbers.

Growing Scrutiny

WhatsApp, which has more than 2 billion users worldwide, is under growing pressure to combat scams and misinformation without compromising its end-to-end encryption. Meta said its detection systems rely on behavioural signals and metadata rather than message content, which remains private.

This move comes amid broader concerns about digital fraud rings operating across multiple platforms. Several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, Cambodia, and Indonesia, have recently reported surges in tech-enabled scams tied to cross-border criminal networks.

Meta says it is working closely with governments and law enforcement to not only disable these accounts but also track patterns of abuse, share threat intelligence, and strengthen user protections.

The company has not ruled out further enforcement actions, and has promised to continue expanding safeguards across WhatsApp’s ecosystem to limit the reach and impact of organized fraud.