WhatsApp’s New Username Feature Raises Fresh Scam Concerns

In a new development, WhatsApp is ready with usernames and people will be able to connect without sharing their mobile numbers. The new feature should enhance user privacy but it has also been brought to light that scammers might be exploiting user privacy by creating fake identities.

It is currently launching in stages, and has already enabled pre-booking of user names for other users before it is made available on a wider scale later this year.

Users will not have to look up the phone number to speak to another user but will instead be able to find and message one another with an alternate username. According to Meta, this will allow people to have greater control of their privacy, particularly if they’re meeting with someone for the first time.

But, cybersecurity experts say the switch could increase the occurrence of online fraud. Usernames that look trompe l’oeil to the names of banks, government institutions, public figures or popular companies may be used to try to solicit information or payment from a person.

Early tests reportedly found several names used by politicians, celebrities and a number of major organisations, causing greater concerns over possible impersonation of trusted identities.

Meta has stated that it has already taken action to prevent impersonation, using usernames of many public figures and official organisations. Only ‘verified’ owners will be able to claim those ‘protected’ usernames, the company says. Despite that, the company does not clarify whether it’s able to resolve the problem of users who have similar-looking names but different accounts.

It has also caught the eye of Indian security forces. According to the report, the country’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has summoned WhatsApp to halt the rollout until it is able to talk to the government. Officials worry phishing and impersonation scams and other frauds in the online world could be harder to spot if users aren’t notified of who a phone number originates from.

But digital rights organizations say that the problem is with the username itself. According to them “criminals should be contained rather than privacy features that are beneficial for millions of people be limited.

The security experts also offer the following tips for users: Use a different name that is not easier to guess. An alternate usernames may decrease undesirable messages and make it more difficult for scammers to determine prospective targets.

To be precise, the username system will be launched stealthily and the improvements made before it’s open to all users. The feature will offer greater privacy while giving the company greater security from fake accounts and identity misuse, the company says.