About spam and unwanted messages
Creating a safe space for our users to communicate with each other is our priority. We work diligently to reduce any spam or 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. They may or may not be in your contacts.
These people might send you messages because they want to spread misinformation or to trick you into giving them money.
What unwanted messages look like
There are clues that might indicate you’ve received a suspicious message, or that the sender can’t be trusted. Look out for these signs:
- 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, like 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, report it, block the sender, and delete the message.
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 is true or don’t know who wrote the message you received, don’t forward it.
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