Unknown number on WhatsApp? Meta rolls out new warning before chats

WhatsApp is rolling out a new safety feature that prompts users to verify unfamiliar phone numbers before starting a conversation, adding another layer of protection against scams and impersonation attempts.The feature, available on both Android and iOS, displays a warning screen when a user attempts to open a chat with a phone number that is not recognised as a trusted contact. Instead of taking users directly into the conversation, WhatsApp presents information that could help them decide whether to proceed.According to WABetaInfo, the warning screen shows the country where the phone number is registered, whether the number is already saved in the user's contacts, and whether the two users share any common WhatsApp groups. Users can then choose either to continue with the chat or cancel it. The recipient is not notified of either action.The update is part of WhatsApp's broader effort to strengthen protections against scams. Unlike the platform's existing warnings for device-linking scams, which appear after a scam attempt has already begun, the new feature intervenes before a conversation is opened.Meta had earlier said it was working on additional safeguards to help users identify suspicious contacts. As part of its advice to users, the company urged people to pause before responding to unfamiliar numbers, question requests that appear unusual or too good to be true, and verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a friend or family member through another trusted communication method.The latest warning system builds those recommendations into the app by encouraging users to review details about an unfamiliar number before engaging with it.The feature is not intended to identify every fraudulent contact. Legitimate users may have changed phone numbers or use numbers registered in another country, while some suspicious contacts may not trigger the warning. WhatsApp therefore continues to advise users to independently verify unfamiliar contacts if anything appears unusual.The rollout is underway for WhatsApp users on Android and iOS, although the company has not disclosed the exact conditions that determine when the warning will appear.