'This should scare anyone': WhatsApp usernames spark privacy, scam fears

WhatsApp's newly introduced username feature has triggered a wave of concern among entrepreneurs and creators, with many warning that the update could make impersonation and fraud easier if stronger safeguards are not introduced.While the feature is designed to let people connect without sharing their phone numbers, critics say it could also create fresh risks around identity verification and unsolicited messages.Also Read: Kunal Shah announces WhatsApp usernames as platform moves beyond phone numbersEntrepreneur Ankur Warikoo said the rollout could become problematic in India if adequate anti-abuse measures are not put in place.In a country such as India, this could be a disaster, if the right anti-abuse systems are not set up by WhatsApp.Imagine receiving a message from warikoo / awarikoo / ankurwarikooo / ankur_warikoo / a_warikoo / ankurwarikooofficial etc etc - soliciting money.1. Most people… Ankur Warikoo (@warikoo) June 30, 2026In a post on X, he wrote, "In a country such as India, this could be a disaster, if the right anti-abuse systems are not set up by WhatsApp. Imagine receiving a message from warikoo / awarikoo / ankurwarikooo / ankur_warikoo / a_warikoo / ankurwarikooofficial etc etc - soliciting money."Warikoo said many people may not understand verified accounts even if such a system is introduced. He also noted that usernames would remove the ability to verify someone's identity through their phone number because the feature is designed around privacy.Referring to his earlier legal battle with Meta, Warikoo said he had already experienced how AI-generated advertisements misusing his identity were used to lure people into fraudulent WhatsApp investment groups. Based on that experience, he said the feature raises serious concerns from the perspective of a public figure.Founders question rolloutDodo Payments founder Ayush Agarwal criticised the username reservation process, writing, "worst thing ever, what's the point if we can't reserve the actual names"worst thing ever, what's the point if we can't reserve the actual names pic.twitter.com/aMCZqLY80Q— Ayush Agarwal (@ayushagarwal) June 29, 2026Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma also hinted at impersonation concerns, posting, "Soon you will have verified username on WhatsApp, and then unverified similar-sounding usernames….which in turn will…"Soon you will have verified username on WhatsApp, and then unverified similar-sounding usernames….which in turn will… Vijay Shekhar Sharma (@vijayshekhar) June 29, 2026Meanwhile, NamasteDev founder and YouTube educator Akshay Saini used humour to suggest scammers and paid verification could eventually become part of the ecosystem. In a satirical post, he joked about fake usernames, paid blue ticks and premium inbox placement.'Don't let WhatsApp become Instagram'MBA Chai Wala Group CEO Praful Billore appealed to CRED founder Kunal Shah to preserve WhatsApp's personal nature, saying the platform remains one of the few places online where conversations feel private.Hi @kunalb11I’ll keep this short because I think you appreciate directness.WhatsApp is the last personal space we have on the internet. No algorithms. No follower counts. No performance. Just people talking to people.Every other app has turned into a stage. WhatsApp is…— Prafull Billore (@_prafullbillore) June 29, 2026He wrote, "WhatsApp is the last personal space we have on the internet. No algorithms. No follower counts. No performance. Just people talking to people. Every other app has turned into a stage. WhatsApp is still a room."Billore said WhatsApp's biggest strength has always been its simplicity rather than the number of features it offers. He urged Shah to advocate for keeping the platform focused on personal communication instead of allowing it to evolve into another social media platform.Users fear loss of privacySome users also questioned whether usernames could reduce WhatsApp's privacy.One user said people with common names could become easy targets for impersonation and unsolicited messages, adding that the presence of WhatsApp Pay could make the risks even more significant.Kunal Shah has started experimenting with Whatsapp. WhatsApp just launched usernames.Now the issue with this is anyone can contact you using your username. This will be a nightmare for people like me who have very common name. No matter how much I experiment with my username,…— Jyoti (@virgojyoti02) June 30, 2026Another user argued that unlike other social media platforms, WhatsApp users should avoid choosing usernames that match their real names because anyone could search for those usernames and contact them without knowing their phone numbers.This new WhatsApp usernames feature should scare anyone.On most social media apps we try to get a username that matches our real name. It's a flex if we can grab one.On WhatsApp it will be a privacy nightmare if we do that. Anyone can search for the name and directly reach…— Kartik Dayanand (@KartikDayanand) June 30, 2026Across the reactions, a common concern emerged: while usernames may improve privacy by hiding phone numbers, users believe the feature will require strong protections against impersonation, scams and abuse as it rolls out.