Experts Warn WhatsApp Usernames May Cause Initial Confusion, Raise Scam Risk

With more than 500 million users, India is WhatsApp's largest market. To make the platform more private by reducing the need to share personal phone numbers, the Meta-owned messaging app recently announced its long-rumoured Usernames feature. With this option, users will be able to connect with people and businesses without sharing their mobile numbers. While some have welcomed it as a major privacy upgrade, it has also raised concerns that scammers could create similar-looking usernames to impersonate celebrities, public figures, banks, brands and government agencies.MeitY To Examine WhatsApp Usernames FeatureThe concerns have even caught the government's attention. According to an ANI report citing sources, the Government has now issued a notice

to Meta over the rollout of WhatsApp's Usernames feature in India.

The report claims the Government has asked the company to submit a detailed explanation within three days and has directed it not to roll out the feature until consultations on the matter are complete.However, WhatsApp has defended the feature and said it has been designed with multiple layers of security to reduce abuse. In a statement shared with Times Now Tech, the Meta-owned app clarified that there will be no searchable username directory or suggestions that allow users to discover random people. Instead, someone will need to know a person's exact username before they can contact them for the first time. WhatsApp is also introducing an optional username key, which acts as an additional verification step before a new conversation can begin. The company further said that existing Facebook and Instagram usernames will be reserved for their owners during the reservation period and for a limited time afterwards. Additionally, usernames belonging to celebrities, public figures, government organisations and verified Meta accounts will be reserved so that only legitimate owners can claim them. Certain lookalike versions of well-known names will also be blocked to reduce impersonation attempts.What Experts Are Saying? Despite these safeguards, tech experts stressed that users should remain cautious during the initial rollout.Faisal Kawoosa, Founder & Partner at TechArc, expects the biggest challenge to come during the early days of the rollout. According to him, users may face confusion until they become familiar with the new system. "So far a user could only connect with someone who had their number. One would have number only if known or there would be a legitimate reason of connecting. Now, people could be connected even without phone numbers making it a public discovery on WhatsApp than a closed network. Also, there are high chances of impersonation even if celebrity names are not protected. It's not that difficult to play around names and create identical identities," he told Times Now Tech. Prachir Singh, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research said WhatsApp should continue improving its ability to detect impersonation and quickly remove fraud accounts as adoption increases. "At the same time, users should verify the identity of accounts claiming to represent banks, brands, or government agencies, and avoid sharing sensitive information based on a username alone," Singh added.Prabhu Ram, VP-Industry Research Group, CyberMedia Research (CMR warned that scammers are known for adapting quickly to new technologies. According to him, India presents a unique challenge because millions of people already trust WhatsApp for daily communication and that trust could be exploited through fake accounts. He also acknowledged that WhatsApp has introduced important protections, including optional username keys and abuse detection systems. However, he believes these safeguards will only be effective if users understand how they work.