WhatsApp Usernames: Will They Increase or Decrease Frauds?

Meta has been asked by India's government to suspend the rollout of WhatsApp's new username feature in the country, citing concerns that the feature could increase online fraud and scams.

The feature, which allows users to create unique usernames instead of sharing phone numbers, was initially announced in late June 2026. Meta claimed it would enhance user privacy and reduce phishing and SIM-swap attacks. However, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) shortly thereafter directed Meta to halt the rollout in India and explain how potential risks would be mitigated.

According to the ministry, usernames "may materially increase the incidence of online fraud, phishing, and impersonation attacks" by enabling bad actors to solicit and message victims. WhatsApp has been instructed not to enable the feature for Indian users until these concerns are addressed. The feature remains on hold in India, despite its rollout in select international markets.

India is WhatsApp's largest market, with over 853 million users. The government's objections carry weight given the country's escalating cybercrime landscape, with Indians estimated to have lost around $2.7 billion to cybercrime in 2025. Security experts have also voiced concerns that replacing phone numbers with usernames could make it harder to trace and hold perpetrators accountable.

Meta also sees strategic benefits in usernames, as it can create a common identity layer across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. This development has raised concerns among security experts and policymakers who fear the proliferation of new forms of fraud.