June 3, 2026, 2:44 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
WhatsApp is working on a new feature designed to protect users from potential scams in the messenger. In the future, the app could detect suspicious messages and display a corresponding alert directly in the chat. The planned feature is called “Scam Alert” and is currently still in development.
Warning for Unknown Contacts
With Scam Alert, WhatsApp aims to provide additional alerts when a message from an unknown contact might be part of a scam attempt. In such cases, a warning appears directly in the chat. Users can then decide how they wish to respond.
The feature does not make automatic interventions. Instead, it provides information to help assess potential risks. Users can then choose whether to block and report the contact or trust the chat.
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As reported by the website “WABetaInfo,” Scam Alert is being developed precisely for such situations. The goal is to alert users early to potentially problematic messages.
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Processing Occurs Directly on the Device
An important aspect of the planned feature is data handling. According to WhatsApp, the analysis of potential scam messages takes place entirely on the smartphone. The content is not transmitted to external servers.
This ensures that messages remain protected by end-to-end encryption. WhatsApp already uses a similar approach for the transcription feature for voice messages. There, too, the content is processed exclusively locally on the respective device.
The messenger aims to provide additional security features without altering users’ protected communication.
Feature Must Be Actively Enabled
If a message is deemed suspicious, WhatsApp displays a warning. Users are given the options “Block and report” or “Trust.”
Additionally, the company is working on local activity logs. These will document when Scam Alert was triggered. According to current information, the feature will be optional and initially disabled by default. Those who wish to use it must activate it themselves in the settings.
Scam Alert is not yet available. The feature is still in development and cannot currently be tested by beta testers or regular users. WhatsApp has not yet announced a release date.