WhatsApp tests AI feature on mobile to detect scam attempts in conversations

Meta has introduced a new feature called Scam Alert for WhatsApp. This system uses artificial intelligence directly on the user's device to detect suspicious messages and issue warnings about potential scam attempts.

Currently, Scam Alert is in a testing phase and will initially be made available to a limited group of beta program participants. As reported to UOL, this feature is not yet accessible in Brazil.

WhatsApp is recognized as a primary channel for scams both in Brazil and globally. In Brazil, 2025 Febraban data indicates that 34% of Brazilians have received contacts from individuals posing as acquaintances. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) points out that in 2025, estimated losses of US$ 725 million occurred due to actions carried out through the Meta application.

The operation of Scam Alert is based on a machine learning model that operates locally on the device, eliminating the need for cloud connection. This model is specifically trained to recognize message patterns frequently used in fraud schemes.

When something is deemed suspicious, the tool notifies the message recipient, ensuring that the potential scammer does not become aware of the alert. The user has the option to block or report the contact, or choose to proceed with the conversation normally.

If the user indicates that the alert was triggered erroneously, the model registers that interaction as trustworthy and stops issuing future security warnings. Additionally, there is a functionality that allows the user to share the last five received messages with Meta, assisting the company in improving its protection mechanism.

According to Meta, the technology performs a probabilistic classification that considers the structure of the conversation and linguistic indicators, focusing more on how the dialogue develops than on isolated keywords. However, the system only analyzes messages from numbers not listed in the user's contacts, which, although logical, creates a vulnerability for scams executed with cloned numbers.

Meta has repeatedly emphasized that the AI model is processed on the device itself. This implies that messages do not need to be sent to a server to be examined. The company clarifies that only the alert counts and the actions taken by the user are transmitted, and this data is always aggregated and anonymized.

On another security front, the company announced that it will make the weights of the machine learning model used in message analysis available to researchers, allowing them to test the AI with various scenarios and inputs. Finally, Meta assured that it does not have means to direct specific models to individual users, besides providing verification tools, aiming to prevent any use of the feature for surveillance purposes.

WhatsApp has begun implementing two distinct changes for iOS users, focusing on both contact management and group dynamics.

One of the changes allows new contacts to be saved using only a username, eliminating the need to link them to a phone number. This feature is already available to certain users on both Android and iOS, according to WABetaInfo.

This addition aligns with the progressive expansion of the username system within the app. Simultaneously, Meta is testing on iOS a tool designed to send automatic welcome messages to members joining groups.

The new field for registering a username is located in the WhatsApp contact creation screen. To access it, the user must press the ' +' button in the 'Chats' section and select 'New Contact'. Previously, identifying a contact was strictly tied to their phone number.

This improvement also helps optimize privacy features. For example, a contact registered this way may have permission to view certain statuses or profile data, such as the icon and description, even when those options are restricted only to the contact list.

The novelty has started appearing for individuals who updated WhatsApp through the App Store, and beta users have also located this new field. However, there is no official timeline established for its full release, as distribution occurs gradually.

Regarding group functionalities on iOS, Meta is developing an option that will allow administrators to automatically trigger a greeting for each new participant. This function had already been identified in the Android beta version and recently appeared in the iOS beta version 26.31.10.73, although it has not yet been released to testers.

The welcome message will have a specific bubble called 'automatic greeting'. It is important to note that the rest of the group members will not be able to see it, but the new member can interact with the content. Even in groups with multiple administrators, there will only be one automatic welcome message, whose text will be shared among all of them and editable by any administrator.

While the welcome tool is still under development without a set date for the public, the username feature has already started appearing for a portion of users, diversifying the ways of identification within WhatsApp.

WhatsApp will implement operational restrictions on older mobile devices. For Android devices, the application will stop operating on some old versions starting September 8, 2026, mandating Android 6.0 or a later version to remain active.

This change will also affect iPhone users, who will have a new minimum operating system requirement in November. Users still relying on devices running Android 5.0 or 5.1 risk losing access to WhatsApp after these criteria are updated.

According to WhatsApp's Help Center, starting September 8, 2026, the application will only be compatible with Android 6 and newer versions. If the device cannot receive a more recent system update, it may stop working on the stipulated date.

The decision to limit support is directly related to the continuous evolution of the application, including the addition of new features, bug fixes, and the implementation of security improvements, which require technologies that obsolete devices do not support.

WhatsApp mentioned that it conducts periodic evaluations of older Android and iOS systems, considering the number of users on each version before determining which will remain supported. Keeping very outdated devices on the support list can also compromise the application of crucial security updates, exposing users to potential risks.

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iPhone owners should also pay attention, as starting November 30, 2026, WhatsApp will only work on devices using iOS 15.5 or later versions.

Meta has not provided an official list of models that will be discontinued from support. The recommendation given is for users to check the installed system version on their phones and look for available updates.

For those who use WhatsApp daily, checking this information in advance can prevent urgent situations. If the phone is not compatible, there will be enough time to plan the replacement of the device or the migration of the account with greater peace of mind. This update follows a common pattern among popular applications: focusing support on more recent operating systems, which are capable of receiving innovations and security enhancements.