WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users.
However, it also attracts spammers, scammers, and hackers who try to send you unwanted messages, steal your personal information, or compromise your account security.
In this article, we will show you how to identify and block spam messages on WhatsApp, and how to prevent them from reaching you in the first place.
What is WhatsApp Spam?
WhatsApp spam is any unsolicited message that you receive on WhatsApp, usually from an unknown sender or a contact that you don’t trust. Some common types of WhatsApp spam are:
#1. Promotional messages
These are messages that advertise a product, service, or offer, often with a link or a phone number to contact.
They may claim to be from a legitimate company or organization, but they are trying to lure you into clicking on a malicious link, calling a premium number, or sharing your details.
#2. Fraudulent messages
These are messages that attempt to trick you into believing that you have won a prize, inherited money, or received a donation.
They may ask you to pay a fee, provide your bank account details, or verify your identity to claim your reward.
They are trying to steal your money or identity or infect your device with malware.
#3. Hoax messages
These are messages that spread false or misleading information, such as rumors, conspiracy theories, or fake news.
They may ask you to forward them to your contacts or to perform a certain action, such as changing your settings, downloading an app, or scanning a QR code.
They are trying to manipulate you, harm your device, or access your data.
#4. Harassing messages
These are messages that insult, threaten, or bully you, or send you inappropriate or offensive content.
They may come from strangers, acquaintances, or even people you know. They are actually trying to intimidate you, hurt you, or violate your privacy.
How to Identify Spam on WhatsApp?
Some signs can help you identify spam messages on WhatsApp, such as:
1. The sender is not in your contacts list or has a suspicious name or profile picture.
2. The message contains spelling or grammatical errors or uses a language that you don’t speak or understand.
3. The message asks you to click on a link, call a number, or share your personal information, without giving a clear or valid reason.
4. The message promises you something that sounds too good to be true, such as money, gifts, or discounts, or warns you about something that sounds too bad to be true, such as a virus, a penalty, or a deadline.
5. The message urges you to forward it to your contacts or to perform a certain action, without giving a clear or valid reason.
6. The message insults, threatens, or bullies you, or sends you inappropriate or offensive content.
If you receive a message that matches any of these signs, you should be careful and not trust it. You can also check the authenticity of the message by doing some research online, or by contacting the sender or the company or organization that they claim to represent.
How to Solve (Block) Spam on WhatsApp?
If you receive a spam message on WhatsApp, you can block it and report it to WhatsApp, so that you don’t receive any more messages from that sender, and so that WhatsApp can take action against them.
To block and report a spam message on WhatsApp, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Navigate to the message thread containing the spam message
You can do this by tapping on the chat icon on the bottom right corner of the screen and then selecting the conversation that contains the spam message.
Step 2: Select the contact at the top
You can do this by tapping on the name or the profile picture of the sender at the top of the screen.
This will open a new screen with the contact’s details and options.
Step 3: Tap Block Contact at the bottom and Report Contact at the top to report
You can do this by scrolling down to the bottom of the screen and tapping on the Block Contact option.
This will block the sender from sending you any more messages.
You can also tap on the Report Contact option at the top of the screen, which will report the sender to WhatsApp for sending spam messages.
Step 4: Confirm your choice by tapping Block and Report or Block
You can do this by tapping on the Block and Report or Block button on the pop-up window that appears. This will confirm your choice and block and report the sender.
Alternatively, you can also swipe left on the message thread in the chat list, and tap More > Block and Report or Block.
By blocking and reporting spam messages on WhatsApp, you can protect yourself and others from spammers, scammers, and hackers.
How to Prevent Spam on WhatsApp?
Besides blocking and reporting spam messages on WhatsApp, you can also prevent them from reaching you in the first place, by adjusting your privacy and security settings on WhatsApp.
Here are some tips to prevent spam on WhatsApp:
Tip 1: Limit who can see your profile picture, status, and last seen
You can do this by going to Settings > Account > Privacy and choosing My Contacts or Nobody for each option.
This will prevent strangers or unwanted contacts from seeing your profile picture, status, and last seen, which can be used to target you with spam messages.
Tip 2: Limit who can add you to groups
You can do this by going to Settings > Account > Privacy > Groups and choosing My Contacts or My Contacts Except for each option.
This will prevent strangers or unwanted contacts from adding you to groups, which can be used to send you spam messages.
Tip 3: Disable the read receipts
You can do this by going to Settings > Account > Privacy and turning off the Read Receipts toggle.
This will prevent senders from knowing whether you have read their messages, which can be used to gauge your interest or response.
Tip 4: Enable the two-step verification
You can do this by going to Settings > Account > Two-step verification, and turning on the Enable toggle.
This will require you to enter a PIN code whenever you register your phone number with WhatsApp, which can prevent hackers from accessing your account.
Tip 5: Enable the fingerprint lock
You can do this by going to Settings > Account > Privacy > Fingerprint lock and turning on the Unlock with fingerprint toggle.
This will require you to scan your fingerprint whenever you open WhatsApp, which can prevent unauthorized access to your account.
Tip 6: Avoid clicking on unknown links, calling unknown numbers, or sharing your personal information
You can do this by being cautious and skeptical whenever you receive a message that asks you to click on a link, call a number, or share your personal information, without giving a clear or valid reason.
You can also check the authenticity of the message by doing some research online, or by contacting the sender or the company or organization that they claim to represent.
Tip 7: Avoid forwarding or responding to hoax messages
You can do this by being aware and informed whenever you receive a message that spreads false or misleading information, such as rumors, conspiracy theories, or fake news.
You can also check the accuracy and relevance of the message by doing some research online, or by using a fact-checking service or app.
Tip 8: Avoid engaging or provoking harassing messages
You can do this by being respectful and assertive whenever you receive a message that insults, threatens, or bullies you, or sends you inappropriate or offensive content.
You can also block and report the sender as soon as possible, and seek help from a trusted person or a professional if needed.
Tip 9: Use a spam filter app
You can do this by installing and using a spam filter app, such as Truecaller, SMS Organizer, or Call Blocker, which can automatically identify and block spam messages and calls on WhatsApp and other apps.
Tip 10: Update your WhatsApp app regularly
You can do this by checking and installing the latest version of WhatsApp from the App Store or the Google Play Store, which can fix bugs and improve security features.
Tip 11: Report spam to WhatsApp
You can do this by contacting WhatsApp through their website, email, or social media, and providing them with the details and screenshots of the spam messages that you receive.
This can help WhatsApp to take action against the spammers and improve their service.
By following these tips, you can prevent spam on WhatsApp and protect your privacy and security.
Conclusion
WhatsApp is a great app for communicating with your friends, family, and colleagues, but it also attracts spammers, scammers, and hackers who try to send you unwanted messages, steal your personal information, or compromise your account security.
In this article, we have shown you how to identify and block spam messages on WhatsApp, and how to prevent them from reaching you in the first place.
By following these steps, you can enjoy WhatsApp without worrying about spam.
