Will WhatsApp usernames make scams easier? Internet raises privacy concerns

WhatsApp has started allowing users to reserve usernames instead of relying solely on phone numbers. While the feature offers greater privacy, it has also sparked concerns about fake identities, spam and accountability.

In Short

• WhatsApp to introduce usernames, replacing phone numbers for messaging.
• Feature rollout includes privacy controls but concerns remain high in India.
• Indian users fear rise in scams and impersonation with new feature.

For years, one of WhatsApp's defining features was simple: you needed someone's phone number before you could message them. That is about to change, and while the new username feature promises greater privacy, many users in India are now worried it could also open the door to impersonation and scams.

WhatsApp has begun rolling out username reservations, allowing users to claim a unique handle that they will be able to use later this year instead of sharing their phone number when starting a conversation.

Despite the privacy-focused pitch, the announcement has triggered widespread concern, particularly in India, where WhatsApp is the country's most-used messaging platform.

Entrepreneur Ankur Warikoo warned that the feature could become "a disaster" unless WhatsApp puts robust anti-abuse systems in place.

"In a country such as India, this could be a disaster, if the right anti-abuse systems are not set up by WhatsApp," he wrote on X.

Warikoo argued that impersonation could become significantly easier, with scammers creating usernames resembling those of public figures to solicit money. He also pointed out that many users do not understand verification badges, and unlike the current system, victims would no longer be able to verify someone's identity by calling the associated phone number if only a username is visible.

Referring to his own experience, he said he had previously fought a legal battle against Meta over AI-generated scam advertisements using his likeness to lure people into fraudulent investment WhatsApp groups, adding that he understood "how massive this scam is and how easy it is in our country to execute it."

Take a look at his post here:

Echoing similar concerns, Jasveer Singh, co-founder and CEO of Knot Dating, wrote that usernames immediately reminded him of Telegram, where anyone can contact users without knowing their phone number.

"The biggest reason I never used Telegram was because anyone could contact you without knowing your phone number. It became a paradise for scammers," he wrote.

He added that phone numbers created a level of accountability because users knew who was contacting them and authorities had a number to trace if required. While acknowledging that usernames improve privacy, he argued they also reduce accountability, "and that's exactly what scammers love."

Take a look at the post here:

The feature also sparked debate among several other social media users.

Sample the reactions here:

Several users also expressed concern over the fact that the scale of WhatsApp usage in India, particularly among rural and less tech-savvy users, could make them more vulnerable to fraud. Scams such as "digital arrest" frauds could become even more common unless WhatsApp introduces stronger safeguards.

WhatsApp has begun rolling out username reservations, allowing users to claim a unique handle that they will be able to use later this year instead of sharing their phone number when starting a conversation.

The feature, which is similar to systems already used by apps like Telegram and Signal, is designed to let people connect while keeping their mobile numbers private.

The company added that users can now reserve a username by updating to the latest version of the app and heading to Settings > Account > Username, ahead of the feature's wider rollout later this year.

WhatsApp has also said there will be no public username directory, and users will need to know someone's exact username to contact them. An optional "username key" will also be available to further restrict who can message a user.

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