WhatsApp implements AI & ML systems to cut international spam calls by 50%

WhatsApp claims to have implemented new artificial intelligence and machine learning systems that will reduce spam calls by at least 50 per cent. The messaging app in its statement said that it will continue to provide several safety tools like Block & Report, consistently building user safety education and awareness, as well as, proactively weeding out bad actors from our platform. 

WhatsApp users in India have recently reported a massive surge in incoming international spam calls. Most of these pesky calls are reported to be from international phone numbers that start with Indonesia (+62), Kenya (+254), Ethiopia (+251), Malaysia (+60), Vietnam (+84). Many of these numbers try to lure users with job offers via international numbers. 

The Government has circulated an alert advising every citizen not to respond to such unwanted calls because this is part of a major scam where fraudsters would lure in unsuspecting users with promises of quick money and then swindle them out of lakhs. 

"We continue to provide several safety tools within WhatsApp like Block & Report, consistently build user safety education and awareness, as well as, proactively weed out bad actors from our platform. However, bad actors find different ways to scam users. International scam calls are a new way that bad actors have recently adopted. By giving a missed call, they lead curious users to call or message back only to get scammed," WhatsApp said in its statement.