Quote:Meta is working on a new scam detection feature for WhatsApp called Scam Alert. This tool is designed to spot potentially fraudulent messages from unknown senders while preserving end-to-end encryption and without transmitting message content to any server.

The feature was recently observed in a WhatsApp beta for Android by WABetaInfo. There is no announced release date, and the feature is still in development and not yet available to all users.

How WhatsApp’s New Scam Alert Feature Works

Scam Alert operates entirely on your device. WhatsApp does not send messages to external servers for analysis. The system checks incoming messages from contacts not saved in your address book and shows a warning within the chat if it detects potential scam activity.

The method is similar to WhatsApp's existing voice transcription feature, which also works completely on-device without sending audio files to servers.

When Scam Alert detects a possible scam, a warning appears directly in the chat. Users have full control and can choose to block and report the contact or dismiss the warning and continue the conversation. The feature does not block communication with unknown contacts.

Local logs are created on your device to record when Scam Alert flags potential scam activity. These logs stay stored locally and are not sent elsewhere.

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