WhatsApp Username Feature: Is Your Money at Risk?
India's government has asked Meta to pause WhatsApp's new username feature over fears it could make impersonation scams easier. Here's what this means for your money and how to stay safe on WhatsApp right now.
A WhatsApp scam takes avg 4 minutes — less than your chai break — to drain your savings
Lost annually to digital fraud in India — and WhatsApp is a top hunting ground for scammers
Key Takeaways
Enable WhatsApp's two-step verification now — go to Settings → Account → Two-step verification — to add a PIN layer against account takeover.
Never share OTPs, UPI PINs, or bank account details over WhatsApp, even if the sender appears to be your bank, employer, or a family member.
If you receive a payment request from an unknown or suspicious WhatsApp contact, verify the identity via a direct phone call before transferring any money.
India's government has asked Meta to pause WhatsApp's new username feature over fears it could make impersonation scams easier. Here's what this means for your money and how to stay safe on WhatsApp right now.
Here's what happened: The Indian government sent Meta a notice to halt the WhatsApp username rollout, citing serious impersonation and identity fraud risks for users.. The proposed feature would let people connect via usernames instead of phone numbers — raising concerns about fake profiles mimicking banks or family members.. Authorities are also examining whether the feature could lead to cross-app data sharing between WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram without user consent..
What you should do: Enable WhatsApp's two-step verification now — go to Settings → Account → Two-step verification — to add a PIN layer against account takeover.. Never share OTPs, UPI PINs, or bank account details over WhatsApp, even if the sender appears to be your bank, employer, or a family member.. If you receive a payment request from an unknown or suspicious WhatsApp contact, verify the identity via a direct phone call before transferring any money..
Pro tip: WhatsApp's 'Silence Unknown Callers' setting (Settings → Privacy → Calls) blocks most scam voice calls from unknown numbers before they even reach you — turn it on today.
Protect Your Money Now
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This article is reported by GoCredit's Editorial Team based on the source above. GoCredit synthesises, contextualises, and adds India-borrower-relevant analysis. We are not the original publisher.