WhatsApp is testing a new Scam Alert feature for Android that warns users when an unknown sender’s message shows signs of a scam, according to WABetaInfo, a tracker of WhatsApp updates. The feature, detected in WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.26.34.1, is designed to operate without compromising end-to-end encryption, and it is currently available only to a subset of beta users.

Key takeaways

• WhatsApp’s Scam Alert feature is being tested in Android beta version 2.26.34.1, as detected by WABetaInfo.
• The feature uses an on-device machine learning model to detect potential scam messages without sending message content to WhatsApp or Meta.
• Scam Alert is not enabled by default; users must manually activate it via Settings > Account on Android.
• When a warning appears, users can either mark the sender as trusted or block and report the account.
• Meta has not announced a specific date for the general public release of Scam Alert.

What is WhatsApp Scam Alert?

WhatsApp began development of Scam Alert earlier this year, before Meta provided an official description of the feature. The purpose of Scam Alert is to alert users when a message from an unknown sender shows signs of being a scam. The sender of a message that triggers a Scam Alert warning is not informed that the recipient received the warning.

According to Meta’s official blog post, Scam Alert relies on an on-device machine learning model to detect potential scam messages. The company asserts that no message content is sent off the device for classification and that nothing is automatically reported to WhatsApp, Meta, or any other party. This design is intended to function alongside WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, giving users control over whether to use the warning system.

How Scam Alert works

When a Scam Alert warning appears, users have two options:

• Mark the sender as trusted, which adds them to a trusted list.
• Block and report the account to WhatsApp.

Users who mark a conversation as trusted can optionally share the last five messages from that chat with WhatsApp to help improve the feature’s accuracy. This sharing is entirely optional and is part of the user-controlled feedback loop.

Scam Alert availability and activation

The Scam Alert feature is currently available only to certain beta users. It is being introduced to a subset of Android users who are part of WhatsApp’s beta testing program. The feature is not enabled by default; it requires manual activation through the Settings > Account menu on Android.

Why it matters

Scam Alert represents a proactive approach to combating phishing and fraudulent messages on WhatsApp, a platform used by billions worldwide. By running detection on-device, Meta aims to preserve privacy and uphold end-to-end encryption while still offering users a safety net. The optional nature of the feature gives users control, but its absence by default may limit its immediate impact.

What happens next

WhatsApp has not provided a specific date for the general public release of Scam Alert. The feature is currently being tested with beta users, and feedback from these tests will likely influence its rollout. For now, users on the beta channel can enable the feature and contribute to its improvement.