India Halts WhatsApp’s New Username Feature Over Rising Scam Fears

• India has asked Meta to delay the rollout of WhatsApp’s new username feature, warning that it could make it easier for scammers to impersonate users and fuel the country’s growing cybercrime crisis.

The Indian government has asked Meta to postpone the launch of WhatsApp’s upcoming username feature, citing concerns that it could expose millions of users to fraud, phishing attacks, and identity impersonation.

The feature, announced earlier this week, would allow WhatsApp users to connect using unique usernames instead of sharing their phone numbers—a move Meta says is aimed at improving user privacy.

However, Indian authorities fear the change could unintentionally create new opportunities for cybercriminals to deceive unsuspecting users.

According to reports, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has written to Meta, requesting that the feature not be introduced in the country until further consultations are completed.

Officials reportedly warned that scammers could register usernames resembling those of trusted individuals, businesses, or public figures, making it easier to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or sending money.

“There is a possibility that bad actors may claim usernames and message other users while pretending to be someone they are not,” a senior government official was quoted as saying, adding that the risk is especially high for people with limited digital literacy.

India is WhatsApp’s largest market, with more than 500 million users, making the country particularly vulnerable to large-scale impersonation scams.

The request comes as India continues to battle a surge in cybercrime. Government data shows that citizens lost nearly $3 billion to online fraud in 2025—almost 40 times higher than the amount recorded in 2021.

In response to the concerns, Meta said the username feature has not yet been launched in India and emphasized that several safeguards are already in place.

The company said it has reserved usernames for verified accounts and high-profile public figures to reduce the risk of impersonation. It also stressed that users will still need a valid phone number to create and use a WhatsApp account, while additional security measures have been built into the feature.

The username system is already available on WeChat, the popular messaging platform owned by China’s Tencent.

For now, Meta’s rollout in India remains on hold as regulators continue to assess whether the new feature can be introduced without increasing the risk of online scams for millions of users.