WhatsApp is testing a new security feature that could give users an early warning when a conversation with an unknown contact appears suspicious. The Scam Alert feature is currently available to a limited number of Android beta testers as WhatsApp works on a wider rollout.
It is designed to identify messages that show signs of common scam patterns, particularly when they come from people who are not saved in a user's contacts. Instead of automatically blocking the conversation, WhatsApp warns the recipient and lets them decide what to do next.
One of the most important parts of the feature is where the analysis takes place. WhatsApp says Scam Alert uses a machine-learning model that runs directly on the user's device. This means the message content does not have to be sent to WhatsApp or Meta's servers for the initial classification.
The feature is also designed to work alongside WhatsApp's existing end-to-end encryption. Meta confirmed that the message content is not automatically reported when a warning is generated. This approach is intended to address a difficult problem for messaging services: detecting fraud without routinely examining users’ private conversations.
Scam Alert is optional, so users can choose whether they want to use it. Once enabled, the on-device model looks for signals associated with known scam conversations. If a message from an unfamiliar contact is considered potentially fraudulent, WhatsApp displays a warning inside the chat.
The recipient can then choose between several options. They can block the sender, report the conversation, or continue chatting if they believe the warning is incorrect. The warning is visible only to the recipient, meaning the person on the other side of the conversation is not automatically notified that their messages have been flagged.
Online scams increasingly rely on social engineering rather than obviously malicious files or links. Fraudsters may first build trust, impersonate another person or create a sense of urgency before asking victims to transfer money, share personal information or click a suspicious link.
That makes early detection particularly useful when a conversation starts with an unfamiliar number. According to WhatsApp, advances in on-device machine learning have made it possible to perform this type of classification on smartphones without requiring a server-side system to inspect the messages. The model is designed to be small enough to run locally while maintaining the privacy protections associated with encrypted chats.
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Currently, Scam Alert is available only to a limited group of Android beta testers. Reports indicate that selected users running WhatsApp beta version 2.26.34.1 are receiving access, although availability is not guaranteed for every tester.
The beta phase will allow WhatsApp to assess how accurately the system identifies suspicious conversations and how users respond to its warnings. A wider release has not been confirmed yet.