WhatsApp Finds that 2 in 3 Singaporeans Are not Reporting Scam Messages: Here's Why It's Important to Report Them

WhatsApp is currently the most popular messaging app platform in the world, with at least two billion monthly active users. In Singapore alone, it has around 4.32 million users, and it is the third most popular app in the southeast Asian nation.

But a recent survey shows that two in three Singaporeans are not reporting scam messages whenever they receive one, and this could be very concerning.

WhatsApp Survey

As reported first by The Straits Times, more than half of the survey's 500 respondents admitted that they do not report these messages to social media platforms because they flag it as a scam. Although this shows that they have high awareness, users are still encouraged to report them.

WhatsApp reports that most of these users just deleted or ignored the messages and that the three most popular scams that they receive are job types, phishing, and investment.

It must be noted that the survey was commissioned by WhatsApp to inform Singaporeans about scam-prevention measures.

Scams in the first half of 2022 amounted to $346.5 million in losses, according to the police, which is already half the $633.3 million recorded in 2021.

The parent company of WhatsApp, Meta, according to Mr. Daryl Poon, regional head for trust and safety, advised anyone who receives a suspicious message to pause, determine whether the message contains an unusual request and if it does, report it to the platform.

Poon noted that even though the user may not have been the victim of a scam, it is still recommended for them to report it to prevent it from affecting other friends.

How to Report Scam Messages

Users of WhatsApp can click and hold a message to trigger a pop-up that will let them report it.

The users will then be notified that a report has been filed. The app usually receives the last five messages sent to the user once a report is made.

If WhatsApp determines that its terms of service have been broken, the offender will be banned. It also employs machine learning algorithms to examine bogus accounts and fraudulent behavior.

How to Spot Unwanted Spam and Unwanted Messages

According to WhatsApp, here are several red flags that a message you received is questionable or that the sender is using a false identity. The following messages should raise suspicions about a contact, so be on the lookout for them.

1. Grammatical errors or misspellings

2. Requests that you tap on a link to activate new features.

3. Messages that ask you to disclose personal information, such as passwords, birth dates, and bank account details.

If you receive suspicious messages, you should report them to WhatsApp immediately.