Meta is stepping up its fight against online scams targeting older adults with new safety alerts across WhatsApp and Messenger. The company announced on Tuesday that users will now see warnings before sharing their screens on WhatsApp video calls and will receive scam alerts when suspicious messages appear in Messenger. The goal is to make it harder for scammers to trick older users into revealing sensitive information or sending money under false pretenses.
This latest move reflects Meta’s growing effort to protect vulnerable users, particularly seniors, who are often targeted by scammers posing as customer service agents, romantic partners, or financial advisors. These bad actors use manipulation and trust-building tactics to convince people to share private details or transfer funds.
According to Meta, its teams detected and disrupted around 8 million scam-related accounts in the first half of 2025 alone. Many of these operations were traced to scam centers in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines. The company also removed more than 21,000 fake Facebook Pages and accounts impersonating legitimate customer service teams in an effort to trick users.
On WhatsApp, users will now see a bright warning screen if they attempt to share their screen with someone they haven’t messaged before. This new prompt aims to stop a common tactic used by scammers who convince victims to share their screens during a call, giving them a chance to steal sensitive details like bank logins, credit card numbers, or verification codes.
Meanwhile, Messenger is introducing AI-powered scam detection that analyzes whether an incoming message looks suspicious. If potential fraud is detected, users will see a clear message warning them to “be cautious, you could be at risk of losing money.” The alert will also describe common scams, such as fake job opportunities, easy-money offers, or fraudulent investment schemes, and encourage users to block or report the suspicious sender.
These scams have become increasingly elaborate, often using emotional or psychological manipulation. Many victims are older adults who may be less tech-savvy or who suffer from cognitive decline, making them more vulnerable to deception.
Scammers frequently build emotional connections by posing as friends or romantic interests, creating trust before exploiting it. In some cases, entire families become involved, trying to convince their loved ones that the supposed “relationship” or “investment opportunity” is not real, a situation that can lead to shame and denial for the victim.
Meta’s latest initiative follows criticism that the company has not done enough to protect users from such fraud, given how simple it is to integrate warnings into its apps. Still, the company notes that it has taken other preventive steps over time, including adding reminders about shipping scams, instant payment fraud, and romance scams during holidays like Valentine’s Day.
It also operates a WhatsApp Safety Center with educational resources that teach users how to recognize scams and stay safe online. Meta says these small changes can have a major impact by prompting people to pause and think before engaging with suspicious messages.
In a broader effort to address the problem, Meta has joined the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center, a coalition that brings together law enforcement agencies and companies such as AARP, Amazon, Capital One, Google, Microsoft, and Walmart.
The group’s mission is to share information, improve early detection of fraudulent activity, and develop industry-wide strategies to stop scams before they escalate. By participating in this partnership, Meta hopes to align its technology tools with a wider network of fraud prevention efforts across multiple industries.
Online scams remain one of the fastest-growing forms of financial crime worldwide, and older adults are often the most severely affected. Many lose not only their savings but also their confidence and independence after falling victim. With the rise of AI-generated messages, voice cloning, and realistic fake profiles, scam operations are becoming harder to identify even for experienced users. Meta’s new approach, blending AI detection, educational alerts, and real-time warnings, represents an important shift toward proactive protection.
While these measures may not eliminate fraud entirely, they could help millions of users recognize red flags sooner and avoid devastating losses. Meta’s focus on clear, timely warnings shows a growing recognition that safety features need to evolve as quickly as scams do. By making its platforms more transparent and protective, the company hopes to build a safer space for older generations to stay connected, informed, and in control of their online experiences.
