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How to report spam on whatsapp


How to block, report, and delete spam on WhatsApp

By Parth Shah

Updated

Get that junk outta here!

With more than two billion monthly active users (MAU) and growing popularity among small businesses, it's common to receive spam messages and calls on WhatsApp. Before you know it, spammers can jam the chat menu with promotional offers and advertisements. After all, the only thing anyone needs is your phone number to contact you on WhatsApp. Among these irrelevant messages, you may miss important alerts.

Being a responsible social app, WhatsApp made it easy to block and report nuisance spammers on the platform. The ability to block and report WhatsApp accounts is available on iPhone, Android, desktops, and the top Chromebooks.

Block and report WhatsApp accounts

The easiest way to prevent someone from sending you unwanted messages, spam or otherwise, is to block them from within WhatsApp. Follow the steps below to block a contact or a business account on WhatsApp.

How to block and report on WhatsApp for Android

  1. Open WhatsApp on Android.
  2. Select a conversation you want to block.
  3. Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner and expand the More menu.

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  4. Select Block.
  5. If you want to report a contact, place a checkmark next to the Report contact option and tap the Block button.

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The option blocks the contact and forwards the last five messages to WhatsApp. When you block a business account on WhatsApp, the service asks you to select a reason for blocking. You can select one of the following options:

  • No longer needed
  • Didn't sign up
  • Spam
  • Offensive messages
  • Other

Tap a radio button beside a relevant reason and tap the Block button in the lower-right corner.

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How to block and report on WhatsApp for iPhone

  1. Launch WhatsApp on your iPhone and open a conversation you wish to block.
  2. Tap the contact name at the top to open the contact info menu.
  3. Scroll down and select Report contact.

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  4. Select Report and Block to confirm your decision, and the contact won't spam you on the platform.

When you block a business account, WhatsApp for iPhone asks for the same reasons for blocking the account. The steps to block a WhatsApp business account remain identical to the above.

How to block and report on the WhatsApp web

Although WhatsApp web is slow at adopting new features, it's a must-have add-on for desktop users. The WhatsApp web and desktop apps have become even better after multi-device support. Go through the steps below to report and block spam on WhatsApp web.

  1. Visit WhatsApp on your preferred browser.
  2. Open a conversation and click the contact name to open the contact info menu.
  3. Scroll down and select Report.
  4. Enable a checkmark beside Block contact and clear chat, and then select Report.

When you block a WhatsApp business account on the web, it won't ask for any reason (like the mobile apps do) for your action.

How to delete spam messages and media on WhatsApp

Now that you've blocked (and possibly reported) the sender, you can delete the messages, so you no longer have to back up WhatsApp spam on Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iOS) and see them in your chats.

Clearing or deleting entire chats removes messages from the specific device only. WhatsApp doesn't remove the same from other connected devices. You should remove WhatsApp spam from your phone and desktop.

Delete spam on WhatsApp for Android

  1. Open WhatsApp on Android.
  2. Head to your Chats screen and long press the conversation in question.
  3. Tap the trash can icon that appears in the row of buttons at the top of the screen.

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  4. Enable a checkmark to delete media received in the chat from the device gallery and select Delete chat.

The steps above delete messages and media files from a specific chat on WhatsApp. If you only want to remove spam images, follow the steps below.

  1. Open WhatsApp on your Android phone.
  2. Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner.
  3. Open Settings.

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  4. Select Storage and data.
  5. Open the Manage storage menu.

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  6. Check your WhatsApp chats and storage space.
  7. Open a WhatsApp chat and enable the checkmark beside Select all. Tap Delete.
  8. Repeat the same for all spam chats and groups.

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Delete spam on WhatsApp for iOS

  1. Open WhatsApp on iPhone.
  2. Swipe left on a conversation you want to delete.
  3. Select More.

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  4. Tap Delete Chat.
  5. Select Delete Chat to confirm your decision.

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Repeat the same for all WhatsApp spam conversations on your iPhone. Similar to WhatsApp for Android, you can check individual chats and groups and remove bogus files on your iPhone.

  1. Open WhatsApp on your iPhone and go to Settings.
  2. Select Storage and data.

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  3. Tap Manage Storage.
  4. Check a detailed WhatsApp storage breakdown on your phone.

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  5. Open any chat and select all media files.
  6. Tap the delete button in the lower-right corner.

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The trick is also one of the effective ways to free up space on your phone.

WhatsApp web

You can delete spam messages from WhatsApp web too. Follow the steps below.

  1. Visit WhatsApp on the web or open the desktop app on Windows or Mac.
  2. Select a conversation and click the down arrow beside the contact name at the top.
  3. Click Delete chat.
  4. Select Continue to confirm your action.

What happens when you report and block someone on WhatsApp?

When you block a contact, you can share the last five messages from your chat with WhatsApp. The blocked contact or business can't send you a message or contact you via a voice or video call. WhatsApp won't notify the person when you block them on social media.

Enough with the WhatsApp junk

And just like that, your WhatsApp is free of spam. You can now rest easy knowing the pesky sender has been blocked and reported. If you're looking for other handy guides on using the ever-popular encrypted messaging service, check out our posts on using WhatsApp on your desktop or laptop and how to send disappearing messages.

How to block and report messages as spam on Whatsapp

Once upon a time, spam only arrived in our mailbox in the form of coupons, offers, and other unsolicited missives. Then came the email inbox, where spam proliferated. Next came messaging apps, where spam not only became annoying, but malicious. Some bad actor could send you a spam message which includes a malicious link. Click on that link and you could wind up the victim of ransomware.

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Because of this, it's become crucial for you to not only avoid such messages but also to report the senders and block their addresses. By reporting those senders, you very well might prevent others from receiving that same spam. 

Sadly enough, nearly every messaging service is vulnerable to spam, including Whatsapp. If you use this app, you need to start blocking and reporting those bad actors.

Let me show you how.

Requirements

The only thing you'll need for this is the Whatsapp installed (on either Android or iOS) and a message you suspect to be spam.

Block and report a message 

Before I show you how to do this, you must never click on a link sent to you by a suspicious sender. Ever. Period. If you don't know the sender, assume it's spam and avoid tapping links at any/all costs.

1. Open the suspect message

With that said, locate and tap the message in question. 

2. Access the sender's details

Once you've opened the message, tap the contact name or number at the top of the screen (Figure 1).

A message on Whatsapp (although this one isn't actually spam).

Image: Jack Wallen

3. Block and report the sender

At the bottom of the sender details page (Figure 2), tap Block and then tap Report.

Blocking and reporting are two different actions on Whatsapp.

Image: Jack Wallen

How to unblock a contact

Let's say, for example, you accidentally block a user, only to later find out they were legitimate. How do you unblock them? Simple. Here's how:

  1. Open Whatsapp.

  2. Tap the three-dot menu button and tap Settings.

  3. Tap Account > Privacy.

  4. Scroll down to the bottom and tap Blocked contacts.

  5. Tap the sender to unblock and (when prompted) tap Unblock NUMBER (Where NUMBER is the number associated with the contact - Figure 3).

Unblocking a contact in Whatsapp.

Image: Jack Wallen

And that's all there is to blocking and reporting spam on Whatsapp. Remember, keeping diligent about not tapping on links or replying to messages from unknown contacts is an absolute must these days. Being careless with SMS and other types of incoming messages can land you in a world of trouble, by way of ransomware and other types of attacks. And given how much sensitive data we keep on our mobile devices these days, that extra amount of caution will go a long way to protect you from such attacks.

More how-tos

5 Ways to Recognize WhatsApp Spam (and What to Do About It) • Oki Doki

With 1.5 billion users on the service, it's no surprise that WhatsApp spam is a common problem. Whether it's a scam, a phishing attempt, or just plain old company marketing bullshit, you need to know how to spot WhatsApp dangers so you can a) block a sender and b) make sure you're not putting your security at risk.

How to recognize spam on WhatsApp

Here are our main ways to detect spam on WhatsApp, as well as some tips on what you should do if you receive such a message.

1. Frequently forwarded messages

Most WhatsApp users know that WhatsApp allows you to forward messages received from one person directly to another recipient (for those who did not know, press and hold the message and tap the forward icon in the upper right corner of the screen) ,

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However, users may be less aware that WhatsApp has a separate indicator for frequently forwarded messages. When a message has been forwarded five times, you'll see a double arrow icon instead of the single arrow that a typical forwarded message has. This feature was launched in mid-2019.

The distinction is very important: if a message has been forwarded more than five times, it will almost always be a form of spam—whether it's just another boring meme going around in circles, fake news, or something more sinister. nine0003

2. Unrecognized numbers

WhatsApp allows you to send messages to anyone with a phone number. This means that spammers can extract contact information from the Internet, buy lists of active numbers on the dark web, and even hack into other services that list your phone number, and then send you an unsolicited message.

It is unlikely that you will ever have such a sender in your address book, meaning that when it hits your WhatsApp inbox, it will always show up as an unrecognized number. nine0003

Of course, you will sometimes receive messages from an unrecognized number, which will turn out to be your friend's number change, but in most cases it will be spam.

3. Fraud and Suspicious Links

A lot of WhatsApp spam has the sole purpose of getting you to open a link in a message. Follow the link at your own risk; it will attempt to illegally use your personal details, bank details, login credentials, or any other form of data that has value on the dark web. nine0003

Many notorious WhatsApp scams over the past few years have used this form of spam:

  • WhatsApp Gold. Supposedly the premium version of WhatsApp was sent to millions of users during 2016. By clicking on the link and submitting the payment, you apparently got access to a fancier version of WhatsApp used by celebrities. Countless people fell for it.
  • Whatsapp expiration date: Another classic WhatsApp scam. You will see a message that your WhatsApp account has expired and you need to pay to reactivate it. Remember that WhatsApp never charges you to download an app and will not charge any new fees to your account once you get started. nine0034
  • Shopping vouchers: One of the most common WhatsApp scams. If you complete the survey, you will receive a message offering $250 shopping vouchers. In practice, the only thing you will receive in exchange for your efforts is a stolen ID.

Check out our article to learn more about the most common WhatsApp scams.

4. Login/Verification Requests

You may not use WhatsApp to verify two-factor authentication on any app or service known to us. Of course, you should definitely set up 2FA on all your accounts; this is one of the best ways to make sure your accounts are safe even if someone managed to get your login credentials, but those 2FA messages will never make it to WhatsApp. nine0003

You should ideally use a dedicated 2FA app/hardware like Google Authenticator or YubiKey, but at least they will be delivered via direct SMS. If you received such a message on WhatsApp and haven't tried to log in anywhere lately, don't worry. This does not mean that someone is trying to hack into your account. The message is spam and you can ignore it and block it.

5. Specific wording

Spam often uses the same general tactics to try and trick you. According to WhatsApp's own literature, there are four common types of wording in messages that you need to be aware of:

  • The sender claims to be affiliated with WhatsApp.
  • The content of the message includes instructions for forwarding the message.
  • The message claims that you can avoid punishment, such as account suspension, by forwarding the message.
  • Content includes a reward or gift from WhatsApp or another person.

If you receive a message that matches one of the criteria, you must delete it immediately.

How to manage and reduce spam on WhatsApp

Once you've identified a WhatsApp message as spam, what do you do next?

1. How to report a number to WhatsApp

WhatsApp Business allows businesses to interact with their customers through the WhatsApp interface. Using the WhatsApp Business tool to send bulk messages and unwanted contacts is a violation of the WhatsApp terms and conditions.

Since early 2020, WhatsApp has taken breaking the rule very seriously:

Our products are not designed for bulk or automated messaging, both of which have always been in violation of our Terms of Use. Starting December 7, 2019year, WhatsApp will take legal action against anyone we believe is involved in abuse that violates our Terms of Service or assists others in abuse such as automated or bulk messaging. […] even if this decision is based on information available to us solely outside of our platform.

If you receive an unwanted contact from a business account, you should report it to WhatsApp immediately. To report a spam number, open a chat, click on the sender's name, and scroll down to "Report Contact". nine0003

But what happens when you complain about someone on WhatsApp? Unfortunately we don't know. Encryption means that WhatsApp cannot see the contents of the message, but they will be able to see your interaction history and other related data. WhatsApp only says it will "open an investigation". If the sender is found to be violating the Terms of Service, their account may be suspended or blocked.

2. How to block someone on WhatsApp

One of the old sayings for creating a pleasant experience on Twitter is to block sooner and more often. The same philosophy applies to WhatsApp spam. Don't sit back and get frustrated when an endless stream of cat facts hits your inbox; just block your account at the first sign of trouble.

You can block WhatsApp accounts by opening a message, clicking on the three vertical dots in the top right corner and selecting More > Block.

3. Limit who can add you to groups. nine0009

Group spam is a real problem. Whether it's an overly eager friend who has your phone number or a scammer on the other side of the world, you'll often be added to groups you don't want to be a part of.

In 2019, WhatsApp added a new privacy feature that allows you to choose who can add you to new groups. Three options are available: All, My Contacts, and My Contacts Except. To set it up, go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Groups. nine0003

Learn more about WhatsApp security

Learning how to recognize and manage spam on WhatsApp is only a small part of the app's security. If you want to know more, check out our other articles on how to hide your WhatsApp online status and how to make WhatsApp more private.

5 search engines to help you find more than what Google shows

Did you know that Google doesn't show everything? These alternative search engines help you search the web, which Google doesn't. nine0003

About the Author

Dan joined MakeUseOf in 2014 and has been director of partnerships since July 2020. Contact him for information on sponsored content, partnership agreements, promotions and any other form of partnership. You can also see him wandering around the CES show floor in Las Vegas every year, say hello if you're going. Prior to his writing career, he was a financial advisor. nine0003

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How to protect your WhatsApp group from spam and get rid of spammers

WhatsApp is a popular communication application where you can send instant messages, photos, videos and audio files. Compared to other messengers and social networks, there is not much spam on WhatsApp. The creators are actively fighting scammers, but still, many users receive spam messages and download malicious viruses to their smartphones. To avoid this, you need to know how to protect yourself from spammers on WhatsApp. nine0003

WhatsApp has established itself as an ad-free communication app from the start. But lately, users have received more and more intrusive messages from spammers. Because of this, people cannot be sure of their own security, as they understand that their personal data is not well protected. The administrator can get rid of spam in the WhatsApp group. Let's see how to do it.

Why Spam Whatsapp

Marketers try to avoid blocking WhatsApp in every possible way in order to send out mass advertising, drawing users' attention to their product. Fraudsters act a little differently, using WhatsApp to steal personal information or funds from bank cards. They send malware in messages or otherwise get hold of bank card data. nine0003

Whatsapp spam is being sent by marketers and scammers. Marketers bypass the blocking in every possible way in order to use the mass mailing and acquaint people with the product or service being sold. Moreover, as a rule, advertisers first determine which users are included in their target audience, and then send them information. Fraudsters do things differently. They send messages with malicious programs or links to get hold of personal data and use it for personal gain. nine0003

It is not uncommon for WhatsApp to receive messages from scammers claiming winnings or other profits that require the user to enter their bank card details. Of course, a person never receives a prize on a card, but the balance is reset immediately.

Where spammers get your numbers from

Sometimes users wonder how spammers get their numbers. Fraudsters and marketers can get personal data in the following ways:

  • By infecting the interlocutor's device with a virus code that opens access to personal information.
  • By hacking the user's page. After gaining access to someone else's account, attackers begin to send out information on his behalf.

There is no such method of protection that would provide a 100% security guarantee. You can hack any page, and then use it for your own purposes. But there is an opportunity to reduce the risk of illegal access to the page. To do this, you need to consider a few rules:

  • Never click on suspicious links. Hackers and cybercriminals often use this method to hack pages. Moreover, links can come from both unknown numbers and from the pages of friends who have already been hacked.
  • Ignore messages of this kind: "I am writing to you from WhatsApp, reply to me if you received my message." Such messages are sent by scammers, after the answer the user is redirected to a premium service.
  • The WhatsApp Public application allegedly allows you to track the correspondence of the necessary contacts. Actually this is a scam. The correspondence of other users on WhatsApp is strictly protected, no matter what applications are installed. nine0034

These methods will help you avoid getting scammed and keep your WhatsApp conversations safe.

Blocking WhatsApp spam on iPhone

The WhatsApp group administrator must ensure that scammers do not gain access to it. The spam blocking method depends on the type of device used for communication. To protect a WhatsApp group from spam on an iPhone, you need to enter the group, select the contact that sent the spam, then open the information about the interlocutor, select "Report Spam". A confirmation message will appear in the menu that appears. You need to click "ok". After you complete these steps, the selected contact will no longer be able to send a message or media file. nine0003

Blocking WhatsApp spam on Android devices

To remove spam in a whatsapp group from an Android device, you must, again, report the violator to the administration. But in this case, it is important to download an updated version of the application in order to take advantage of the newsletter blocking feature.

You need to select a contact from which spam comes, click on it. After holding your finger, the "Report spam" option will appear. After the system asks you to confirm the action, click "ok". The selected contact will no longer be able to send messages to the group. It is unlikely that it will be possible to completely close the WhatsApp group from spam, but if the administrator regularly monitors spam messages, other users will not feel discomfort. nine0003

Whatsapp Promotion Policy

As of 2019, the WhatsApp policy has been amended to allow advertising only through the WhatsApp Business API. To connect to the API, you need to send a request to WhatsApp by filling out the appropriate form. After the request is approved, the company name will be displayed instead of the number in the dialog box. A gray checkmark will also appear, confirming that you can now send advertisements about the company. nine0003

The green tick is only given to large companies, such as banks.

After receiving the check mark, the paid period for using the business application begins. Regularly paying the required amount, you still need to try not to fall under spam filters. It should also be borne in mind that mailing is allowed only to those numbers whose owners have agreed to this. So, the mailing list can be carried out by online stores to their customers who have already used the service at least once.

Learn more