Meta launches AI tools to fight scammers and protect users

Meta has announced a new set of anti-scam tools across WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger, saying it is also using AI systems to better detect and disrupt fraudulent activity on its platforms. In its March 11 post, the company said the latest changes include device-linking warnings on WhatsApp, alerts for suspicious friend requests on Facebook, and stronger detection systems aimed at scam networks and deceptive advertisers.

WhatsApp and Facebook are getting new warnings

One of the most immediate user-facing changes is on WhatsApp, where Meta says it is adding new warnings around device linking to help prevent scammers from tricking users into connecting their account to an attacker-controlled device. On Facebook, Meta says it is also introducing alerts for suspicious friend requests, a move intended to make impersonation and social-engineering scams easier to spot before users engage.

Meta framed the new tools as part of a broader effort to tackle scams that increasingly move across multiple services and use more sophisticated tactics to appear legitimate. The company said scammers continue to evolve their methods, which is why its own defenses are being updated across different apps rather than in a single product silo.

Meta says AI is now playing a bigger role in scam detection

The company also said it is deploying AI technology to identify and stop scam activity faster. Meta did not present this as a single standalone feature, but as part of a wider safety stack that includes automated detection, enforcement against scam ads, and partnership work with outside agencies and organizations.

Meta says the scale of the problem remains significant. In 2025, the company says it removed more than 159 million scam ads globally for violating its policies. In India alone, Meta says it banned more than 12.1 million pieces of ad content tied to scams, with more than 93% removed proactively.

The company is pairing new tools with enforcement and awareness campaigns

Alongside the product changes, Meta says it is continuing to work with outside partners on anti-scam awareness efforts. The company highlighted its partnership with India’s I4C and SEBI on the third edition of its “Scams se Bacho” campaign, which is aimed at improving user awareness around common online fraud tactics.

This new announcement also follows another recent Meta anti-scam move. In late February, the company said it had filed multiple lawsuits against deceptive advertisers in Brazil, China, and Vietnam as part of a broader effort to disrupt scam activity on its platforms.

Scams on the rise

Scams have become one of the most persistent safety problems across major online platforms, especially as fraudsters use AI tools, impersonation tactics, and cross-platform messaging to make fake offers and urgent requests look more convincing. Meta’s latest update suggests the company is trying to respond on several fronts at once: more visible warnings for users, more automated detection behind the scenes, and more legal and partnership-based enforcement.