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About spam and unwanted messages
We work diligently to reduce any spam messages that come through our system. Creating a safe space for users to communicate with each other is a priority and we aim to reduce unwanted messages that might be sent on WhatsApp. However, just like regular SMS or phone calls, it's possible for other WhatsApp users who have your phone number to contact you, and we want to help you identify and address these types of messages.
Unwanted messages may or may not come from one of your contacts. These types of messages could spread misinformation and lead you to believe inaccurate information.
What unwanted messages look like
There are clues that might indicate you’ve received a suspicious message, or that the sender is pretending to be someone they’re not. Look out for messages that contain the following, as these may indicate a contact is untrustworthy:
- Misspellings or grammatical mistakes
- Asking you to tap on a link or activate new features through a link
- Asking you to share your personal information, such as credit card or bank account numbers, birth date, passwords
- Asking you to forward a message
- Claiming that you have to pay to use WhatsApp
As a reminder, WhatsApp is a free app and you don’t have to pay to use it.
What to do about unwanted messages
If a message looks suspicious or sounds too good to be true, don't tap, share, or forward it. When you receive this type of message, we recommend you report the message, block the sender, and delete the message. Learn how to block and report contacts here. You can also tell the contact that the message appears suspicious, and explain to them how to use WhatsApp responsibly.
As a best practice, if you aren’t sure whether something’s true or don’t know who wrote the message you received, we don’t recommend forwarding it. You can learn more about preventing the spread of misinformation in this article.
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