Brother… I’m your friend, my old number is closed, this is my new number… Have you ever received a message like this? If so, you’re not alone. Scammers use these tactics to defraud people in the digital world. Before we can even understand anything, they’re already on their way. But now, to address this problem for users, WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that will alert you before the chat even begins.
If you’ve ever received a message from an unknown number, where the sender claims to be someone you know, you’re not alone. WhatsApp understands this growing threat well. Therefore, the platform is rolling out a new security feature that will alert users before they even start chatting with an unknown number. This feature will give you a chance to think and be cautious before falling prey to a potential scammer.
According to a report by WABetaInfo, this new feature is being rolled out to both Android and iOS users. As soon as a user attempts to start a chat with a number they’ve never spoken to before, a warning pop-up will appear on the screen.
This warning window will show the user some crucial information, such as:
Where the number is located, what country or region it’s registered in,
Whether the number is saved in your contact list, or whether you both are part of a common WhatsApp group.
After viewing this information, the user will have two options: either continue the chat or cancel it altogether. The key thing is that the other user will not be informed of your decision.
The biggest strength of this new feature is its timing. WhatsApp’s security features typically activate when a conversation has already begun. However, this new feature starts working just before the conversation begins. It blocks scammers from the moment they try to force you into making rash decisions.
Most phone scams have a fairly straightforward approach: they send messages from unknown numbers. Initially, these messages don’t seem suspicious, so people often fall for them. But now, if someone claims to be your friend, and WhatsApp shows you that the number is from another country, you’ll be immediately alert.
Experts say that this new WhatsApp feature isn’t completely secure, but it will protect you significantly. If, for some reason, the scammer’s number is already saved on your phone, this warning may not appear. Furthermore, not every unknown number is a fraud; it’s possible that someone you know has actually acquired a new number. In such a situation, caution is needed even with the new feature, otherwise a small carelessness can prove costly.