WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that could help users identify potential scam messages from unknown contacts. Called Scam Alert, the safety feature is designed to warn users when a message appears suspicious while keeping chats private. The system will work entirely on the user’s device, meaning WhatsApp will not need to read messages or send them to external servers to detect possible scams. The feature is currently under development and is expected to arrive in a future WhatsApp update for Android.
Scam Alert is designed to help users spot potentially fraudulent messages. When enabled, WhatsApp will analyse incoming messages from unknown contacts and display a warning if a message appears suspicious. The warning will be shown directly inside the chat, giving users an additional layer of information before they choose to interact with the sender.
The feature is designed to assist users rather than automatically block conversations. According to WABetaInfo, the key aspect of the feature is its focus on privacy. Scam Alert will process messages entirely on the user’s device, meaning message content will not be sent to WhatsApp’s servers for analysis.
As a result, chats will continue to be protected by end-to-end encryption, and WhatsApp will not be able to read users’ messages while checking for potential scams. The feature is also expected to work quietly in the background, and other users will not know whether Scam Alert is enabled on a device.
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