Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.
Is the Whatsapp Privacy Group Settings Change a Scam?

Whatsapp has changed or updated its group settings to include "everyone" by default. This will allow people you don't know to add you to a group without you knowing. Before the change, only telephone numbers saved to your contact list would have been allowed to add you to a group. And, if someone whose telephone number is not in your contact list attempts to add you to a group, he/she will be prompted by the app to send you a private invite through individual chat. This would give you the choice of joining the new group or ignore the invite which would expire in 3 days.

If you are concerned about your privacy and do not want anyone to add you to a WhatsApp group without your consent, you may change your Whatsapp Group Settings from "Everyone" to "My Contacts".

Changing Your Default Whatsapp Group Settings

  • Open WhatsApp and go to "Settings"

    WhatsApp Settings

    WhatsApp Settings

  • Go to "Account"

    WhatsApp Settings
  • Go to "Privacy"

    WhatsApp Settings
  • Go to "Groups"

    WhatsApp Settings
  • Change "Everyone" to "My contacts"

    WhatsApp Settings
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