WhatsApp is developing a new privacy-focused feature for Android that helps users spot potential scams before they reply. According to a feature tracker, the tool will examine incoming messages from unknown contacts and flag suspicious chats to guard against fraud. The feature, called Scam Alert, works fully on the device and preserves the same end-to-end encryption used in regular WhatsApp chats.

Scam Alert Feature on WhatsApp Might Scan Messages on a User's Device

The Scam Alert tool was found in the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.22.2 on the Google Play Store. It remains under development and should appear in a future release of the Android app.

The feature will alert users when a message from an unknown sender looks suspicious. Rather than blocking the chat automatically, it will offer context so users can judge whether the sender seems trustworthy. WhatsApp is expected to show a warning banner in the chat that reads, "This may be a scam."

Users will then have two choices: block and report the sender, or keep chatting if they think the message is genuine.

A key part of Scam Alert is its privacy design. The feature processes messages only on the device, similar to WhatsApp's voice transcription option. This approach means conversations are never sent to external servers for review.

WhatsApp will not gain access to user chats during the detection process. The tool is also expected to run quietly in the background, so other users will not know whether Scam Alert is active on a recipient's phone.

WhatsApp is also building a transparency option to support Scam Alert. This will let users view local logs that show when the feature was triggered. The records stay on the device and are not shared with WhatsApp. If no suspicious activity occurs in a chosen period, the log will simply note that no scam alerts were created.

The Scam Alert feature will be optional and turned off by default. Users who want it can enable it manually in the app settings. Because the tool is still in development, no official release date has been announced.