The optional security feature uses on-device machine learning to identify potential scam messages without sending private chat content to WhatsApp or Meta.
WhatsApp’s upcoming Scam Alert feature has started reaching some Android users enrolled in the platform’s beta programme, suggesting that a wider public rollout could be approaching.
WhatsApp was first reported to be developing the feature in June, while Meta officially detailed the Scam Alert system more than two weeks ago. Although the company has not announced a date for its global release, the feature is now available to selected users running WhatsApp beta version 2.26.34.1 for Android, according to WABetaInfo.
As its name suggests, Scam Alert is designed to warn users when an incoming message from an unknown sender appears likely to be fraudulent.
When a warning is triggered, users can choose to mark the sender as trusted or block and report the account. If a user decides to trust the chat, WhatsApp may also allow them to share the last five messages from the conversation to help improve the system’s accuracy.
The feature is optional and must be manually enabled. Android beta users who have access to it can reportedly find the option under Settings > Account in WhatsApp.
Meta has said that Scam Alert operates using an on-device machine learning model, meaning message content does not leave the user’s device for classification.
According to Meta, no chat content is automatically reported to WhatsApp, Meta or any other party. The company said the system is designed to complement WhatsApp’s existing end-to-end encryption while giving users an additional, user-controlled tool to identify potentially fraudulent messages.
The approach could address concerns about privacy, as WhatsApp’s private messages remain protected by end-to-end encryption while the scam detection model operates locally on the device.
WhatsApp has not yet confirmed when Scam Alert will become available to all Android and iPhone users. However, its arrival in the Android beta programme indicates that the feature is moving closer to a broader release.
The rollout comes as messaging platforms face increasing pressure to protect users from online fraud, impersonation attempts and other scams targeting people through private chats.