WhatsApp is now testing its new Scam Alert feature with Android beta users, marking a significant step toward wider rollout. The messaging platform, owned by Meta, first announced the feature in June and provided official details two weeks ago. Now beta testers on version 2.26.34.1 can try the feature firsthand, though a full public release date hasn’t been confirmed yet.
How WhatsApp Scam Alert Works
The WhatsApp Scam Alert feature uses on-device machine learning to identify suspicious messages from unknown senders. When the system detects a likely scam, it warns the recipient—without the sender knowing that Scam Alert is active. This silent operation preserves user privacy while offering protection against fraud attempts.
When you receive a warning, you have options: mark the sender as trusted, or block and report them. If you trust the sender, you can also share the last five messages from that conversation with WhatsApp to help the system improve over time. The feature is optional and must be manually enabled through Settings > Account on Android devices.
Privacy Built In
Meta emphasized that the WhatsApp Scam Alert feature prioritizes privacy. According to the company’s official statement, “No message content leaves the device for classification or is auto-reported to WhatsApp, Meta, or anyone else.” The system runs entirely on your phone, complementing end-to-end encryption while keeping you in control. This approach means scam detection happens locally, and you decide whether to act on warnings or share data to improve accuracy.
The discovery of Scam Alert in the beta build comes from WABetaInfo, which regularly uncovers upcoming features in WhatsApp‘s test versions. As covered earlier, CISA Warns of Critical Gitea Vulnerability Exploited in Code Injection Attacks highlighted how attackers exploit security gaps in other platforms, and in a related development, NovaCookies Phishing Toolkit Exploits DocuSign to Hijack Microsoft 365 Sessions showed how phishing kits target enterprise accounts—reminders of why tools like Scam Alert matter for everyday users.
With the feature now in beta testing, a general release should arrive soon. Until then, Android users can join the beta program to try WhatsApp Scam Alert early and help shape its final form.
المصدر: GSMArena
