India asks Meta to delay WhatsApp username feature over fraud fears
India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has asked Meta to delay the rollout of a username-based login feature for WhatsApp, citing worries that scammers could hijack usernames to impersonate users and launch phishing or digital arrest scams. The feature, announced by Meta in October 2021, would let WhatsApp users connect using a unique username instead of sharing their phone numbers. WhatsApp says the option is not yet live in India and that it has already reserved usernames for public figures and verified accounts, while insisting a phone number remains required and multiple anti-fraud layers are built in.
For Nigerians, WhatsApp is a lifeline for personal chats, business transactions and remittances, with over two billion monthly users worldwide and India as its biggest market. If the username option eventually launches globally, the same impersonation risks that worry Indian regulators could affect Nigerian users, especially those less familiar with digital safety tricks. Officials note that cyber-fraud losses in India surged to nearly $3 billion in 2025—about forty times the 2021 figure—highlighting how fast-growing digital adoption can outpace awareness.
As WhatsApp experiments with new login methods, should you rely on a username for convenience or keep the phone-number verification that adds a layer of protection against impersonation?