Meta has introduced a worldwide initiative to combat online scams this holiday season. The company is implementing advanced safety measures across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook Marketplace, while also cracking down on fraudulent schemes commonly seen during this period.
Some disrupted scams include fake prize offers, where users were lured with promises of gift boxes and prizes by scammers seeking personal information. Other scams involved counterfeit holiday decorations and unrealistically low-priced items that never arrived. Fraudulent coupon schemes tricked people into completing fake surveys by mimicking trusted websites.
To enhance safety, WhatsApp now displays context cards for unknown contacts or group invites, helping users identify potential risks. Instagram alerts users of suspicious activity when followed by questionable accounts, and Marketplace provides warnings for messages matching known scam patterns.
Meta’s collaboration with banks and organizations worldwide through the Fraud Intelligence Reciprocal Exchange (FIRE) program is enabling real-time sharing of scam data, improving detection systems. Over 15,000 phishing sites have been removed globally this year, including impersonations of Meta’s brands in countries like Vietnam and Singapore.
Educational campaigns are running globally, featuring comedians, influencers, and creators sharing safety tips. Over 30 million people have accessed Meta’s anti-scam resources, learning to spot and avoid fraud.
Meta continues to expand efforts to protect users from evolving threats and promote online safety awareness worldwide.
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