New safety features aim to stop screen-sharing and message-based scams that disproportionately affect seniors.
A New Line of Defense Against Scams
Meta is rolling out new scam detection tools on WhatsApp and Messenger to tackle the rising wave of online fraud targeting older adults. The features include warnings during screen-sharing on WhatsApp and message scanning alerts on Messenger, part of a broader push to make its platforms safer for vulnerable users.
The move follows Meta’s detection of 8 million scam-linked accounts in just the first half of 2025, many tied to fraud syndicates in regions like Myanmar, Cambodia, the UAE, and the Philippines.
WhatsApp: Screen-Sharing Warnings
One of the most common tactics used by scammers is tricking users into sharing their screen during a video call. This allows attackers to capture sensitive information, such as bank credentials or verification codes, in real time.
To counter this, WhatsApp will now display a full-screen alert if a user attempts to share their screen with an unknown contact, warning that this action could put their financial data at risk.
Messenger: Smarter Scam Detection
Messenger is also ramping up its defenses by testing AI-powered scam detection. The system evaluates inbound messages and, if they seem suspicious, warns the user:
“Be cautious, you could be at risk of losing money.”
It then offers educational context, describing popular scam techniques such as:
- “Work-from-home” job offers
- Quick-cash opportunities
- Requests for urgent action
- Romance scams or emotional manipulation
Users are prompted to block or report the message sender, adding an extra line of defense before any interaction takes place.
The Broader Problem: Scams That Hit Home
These new features are long overdue. Scam operations are particularly devastating to older adults, who are often less familiar with digital systems and more susceptible to emotional manipulation.
Common scam tactics include:
- Romantic approaches that exploit loneliness
- Social engineering posing as customer support
- Preying on those with mild cognitive impairment or dementia
Often, the emotional fallout extends to families, who may need to intervene, recover stolen assets, or support embarrassed and distrusting relatives.
Meta’s Delayed Response — And Its Justification
Critics argue Meta could have acted much earlier to implement basic safety features such as warnings and alerts, especially given the simplicity of these additions.
The company counters that it already introduced:
- Context cards and safety reminders for scams
- A WhatsApp Safety Center
- Alerts around Valentine’s Day about romance fraud
However, these measures were not tailored to seniors, who are among the most at-risk demographics for digital scams.
A Step Toward Coordinated Action
In a promising move, Meta is joining the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center, a nonprofit that works with:
- Law enforcement agencies
- Corporations like Amazon, Google, Capital One, Walmart, and AARP
This group focuses on combating financial exploitation of older adults, sharing intelligence and solutions to keep digital spaces safer.
