WhatsApp Rolls Out Pre-Chat ‘Trust Warnings’ to Combat Impersonation Scams

Meta-owned WhatsApp has begun rolling out a security feature globally today that proactively warns users before they open a chat with an unknown number. The update which is hitting both Android and iOS devices, introduces what cybersecurity experts call a “trust warning” screen. Rather than opening a conversation immediately when a user taps a message from an unfamiliar contact, WhatsApp now intercepts the action, pausing the interaction to present key contextual data about the sender.