Meta Rolls Out New Anti-Scam Safeguards and Digital Literacy Efforts to Boost Online Safety in Singapore

Meta is strengthening its fight against online scams in Singapore with a suite of new safety tools and expanded digital literacy initiatives designed to help users spot scams earlier and protect their personal information.

The tech giant revealed that in just the first half of 2025, it took action against nearly 12 million scam-linked accounts worldwide including over 68,000 fake accounts and 650,000 scam-related ads removed in Singapore alone. The numbers underscore the rising threat of online scams, as well as Meta’s ongoing efforts to build safer, more trustworthy digital platforms.

New Safety Tools for WhatsApp and Messenger

To combat scam tactics that rely on impersonation and screen-sharing, Meta is introducing new safeguards across its platforms:

• WhatsApp Screen-Sharing Alerts: Users will now receive an automatic on-screen warning if they try to share their screen during a video call with someone not saved in their contacts, a move aimed at preventing scammers from gaining access to personal data on someone’s device.
• Enhanced Scam Detection on Messenger: When users receive a suspicious message from an unknown sender, Messenger will flag it and offer an option to submit recent chat messages for an AI-powered review. This helps users identify potential scams before harm is done.

Stronger Account Security for All Users

Meta is also making it easier for Singaporeans to secure their accounts with passkeys, a safer, password-free login alternative, now available on Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

Users are further encouraged to use built-in privacy and security checkup tools to:

• Enable two-factor authentication or two-step verification
• Strengthen passwords
• Manage privacy settings
• Control who can see their information

Empowering Communities Through Digital Literacy

Beyond technology, Meta is also ramping up education efforts to build safer online behaviours, especially among youths and families.

As a Digital for Life (DfL) partner, Meta joined the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (IMDA) Digital for Life Festival, where it ran interactive booths, workshops, and learning sessions to help parents and young people:

• Understand their digital footprint
• Identify scam tactics
• Build healthy online habits

To further boost awareness, Meta has teamed up with local podcasts including The Daily Ketchup, Rise N’ Shine, and Yah Lah But, running public service announcements urging Singaporeans to enable two-step verification and to use WhatsApp’s block and report functions.

Meta’s Message: Stay Alert, Stay Informed

Meta says staying safe starts with simple habits, pausing before responding to urgent or suspicious messages, turning on two-factor authentication, reviewing privacy settings, watching out for messages from new accounts, and blocking or reporting suspicious contacts.

The company also encourages families to talk openly about scams and to follow trusted sources such as ScamShield and the Singapore Police Force for real-time scam alerts.