By Paul Chimodo
WhatsApp has announced the removal of over 6.8 million accounts linked to criminal scam centres, as part of its efforts to safeguard users and combat fraud on the platform.
The Vice President of Public Policy for Africa, the Middle East, and Türkiye at Meta, Kojo Boakye, revealed this in a statement on Tuesday. He said the accounts were banned between January and June 2025 as part of WhatsApp’s global strategy to disrupt organized criminal activity and enhance user protection.
According to Boakye, many of the scams originate on dating websites or through text messages, before moving to WhatsApp and eventually luring victims onto cryptocurrency or payment platforms.
He added that WhatsApp has also introduced new safety features aimed at strengthening its defences against fraud and ensuring users remain protected while using the platform.
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