--- title: "How to Combat Fake News in WhatsApp Groups" description: "How to tell if a WhatsApp message is true, what \"Forwarded many times\" means, how to report fake news on WhatsApp and moderate your group." featured_image: "https://9bot.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/How-to-Combat-Fake-News-in-WhatsApp-Groups.png" url: "https://9bot.com.br/en/how-to-combat-fake-news-in-whatsapp-groups/" date_modified: "2026-10-30T01:52:59+00:00" last_updated: "2026-10-30T01:52:59+00:00" --- # How to combat fake news in WhatsApp groups Fake news in a WhatsApp group is not just an incorrect message. It becomes a major issue when it arrives with urgency, suspicious links, contextless screenshots, or forwarding requests. This guide provides a simple path for admins to maintain control. fact-checkingsourcessuspicious linksrulesrecurrence Reading time: 4 min ## In this article 1. [Step by step in the 9bot dashboard](#passos) 2. [Direct answer](#resposta) 3. [What recent reports indicate](#relatos) 4. [The real impact on the group](#impacto) 5. [Simple verification protocol](#protocolo) 6. [Before and after active moderation](#antes-depois) 7. [How 9bot helps in this routine](#automacao) 8. [Checklist for fake news and scams](#checklist) 9. [How to tell if a WhatsApp message is true](#p20-verdadeira) 10. [Automatic X-ray screening against hoaxes](#simples) 11. [Conclusion](#conclusao) 12. [Frequently Asked Questions](#faq) ## How it works in practice Recreates the article's before and after. Without 9bot, the fake sign-up link stays from 8:17 to 8:34, several people click and the hoax returns at 9:10. With 9bot, the anti-link holds it at 8:17, the bot guides with !check, the event is logged and the repeat gets a warning. Recreates the article's before and after. Without 9bot, the fake sign-up link stays from 8:17 to 8:34, several people click and the hoax returns at 9:10. With 9bot, the anti-link holds it at 8:17, the bot guides with !check, the event is logged and the repeat gets a warning. ![Want to automate your WhatsApp groups? Discover 9bot and set up alerts, commands and integrations in minutes. Free trial](https://9bot.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1stBannerUniversal-EN.gif)[](https://9bot.com.br/en/start-now/) ## Step by step in the 9bot dashboard The full path is **Groups > your group > Automations > Link Moderation > Configure**. The screenshots below come from the real dashboard, in a test group called "Seu Grupo". The numbers on the images follow the order of the clicks. Against fake news and scams, the most useful part is stopping suspicious links before anyone clicks. Use Remove member mode in groups with a history of scams, list the sites that already spread hoaxes in Forbidden Domains and check the logs to see who repeats. ### Step 1: Select the group 1. In the side menu, click **Groups**. 2. Type the group name in the search box. 3. Click the group card. A badge with its name appears at the top of the dashboard, and everything you configure next applies only to that group. ![9bot Groups screen with a search for Seu Grupo and the group selected](https://9bot.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/9bot-step-1-select-group-en.webp) Step 1: search for the group and click its card. The badge at the top confirms the selected group. **Quick checkpoint:** the number connected to 9bot must be an admin of the group on WhatsApp. Without that it cannot delete messages or remove members. See the [WhatsApp group admin powers](https://9bot.com.br/en/whatsapp-group-admin-powers/) to understand what each permission allows. ### Step 2: Open Link Moderation 1. Click **Automations** in the side menu. 2. Find the **Link Moderation** card ("Block or approve links"). 3. Click **Configure** to open the Anti-Link window. ![9bot Automations screen with the Link Moderation card and the Configure button](https://9bot.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/9bot-step-2-automations-link-moderation-en.webp) Step 2: in Automations, open Link Moderation with the Configure button. ### Step 3: Choose the Anti-Link mode and rules 1. In **Moderation Mode**, choose *Delete message* (deletes the link) or *Remove member* (deletes it and removes the person from the group). *Disabled* turns the filter off. 2. Tick the options that suit the group: allow social media links, block documents and files, allow text only and send a warning message when removing a link. 3. Edit the **Anti-link warning message**. Use `CODE_OPEN`@{user}`CODE_CLOSE` to mention the member, `CODE_OPEN`{groupName}`CODE_CLOSE` for the group name and `CODE_OPEN`{link}`CODE_CLOSE` for the detected link. 4. Click **Save**. ![9bot Anti-Link window with Moderation Mode, filter options and warning message](https://9bot.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/9bot-step-3-anti-link-options-en.webp) Step 3: Anti-Link window with the moderation mode, the filter options and the warning message. ### Step 4: Build the whitelist and block files 1. Tick **Block documents and files** to stop PDF, DOCX, ZIP, RAR, APK and other files sent as documents. Photos, videos, audio and stickers sent in their normal format still go through. 2. In **Whitelist of Allowed Links**, add one domain per line. A domain allows any address inside it: `CODE_OPEN`imgur.com`CODE_CLOSE` allows `CODE_OPEN`imgur.com/abc`CODE_CLOSE` and `CODE_OPEN`www.imgur.com/a/xyz`CODE_CLOSE`. 3. Click **Save**. ![9bot Anti-Link with Block documents and files on and a whitelist with imgur.com and docs.google.com](https://9bot.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/9bot-step-4-whitelist-block-files-en.webp) Step 4: document blocking on and two domains allowed in the whitelist. For a stricter group, use *Remove member* with **Allow text only**. Photos, videos, audio, stickers and documents are then blocked too. ![9bot Anti-Link in Remove member mode with Allow text only ticked](https://9bot.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/9bot-remove-member-text-only-en.webp) Strict setup: Remove member mode with Allow text only ticked. ### Step 5: Connect links to the warning system 1. Still in Automations, open the **Warning Triggers** tab. 2. On the **Forbidden Links** trigger, click Configure and keep **Apply warning for this trigger** ticked. 3. Set the **Warning Count** that each forbidden link adds (the default is 1). 4. Choose whether to **Delete detected message** and **Send moderation alert to admins**. 5. In **Forbidden Domains**, list the domains that should trigger a warning. ![Forbidden Links trigger in the 9bot Warning Triggers tab](https://9bot.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/9bot-step-5-forbidden-links-warning-en.webp) Step 5: Forbidden Links trigger with the warning, message deletion and the domain list. The **Punishment Ladder** tab defines what happens at each accumulated warning. By default, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd are warnings with their own message (the 3rd says the next one removes) and the 4th is a kick, after which the person can return. In the **Whitelist** tab you mark members who never receive warnings. To deal with people who keep pushing anyway, see how to handle [difficult members and conflict in a group](https://9bot.com.br/en/difficult-members-conflict-whatsapp-group/). ![9bot Punishment Ladder with three warnings and a kick on the 4th warning](https://9bot.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/9bot-punishment-ladder-warnings-en.webp) Punishment Ladder: three warnings and a kick on the 4th warning. ### Step 6: Check the logs 1. Click **Moderation** in the side menu. 2. Scroll to **Moderation Deletion Logs** and open the **Anti-Link** tab to see the messages deleted by the filter. The Anti-Spam tab shows the ones removed by Anti-Spam. ![9bot Moderation screen with Moderation Deletion Logs on the Anti-Link tab](https://9bot.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/9bot-step-6-anti-link-deletion-logs-en.webp) Step 6: log of the messages removed by Anti-Link. **Quick checkpoint:** always click Save before closing the window. To review the rest of your moderation routine, use the [moderation checklist for large groups](https://9bot.com.br/en/large-whatsapp-group-moderation-checklist/). ### Anti-Link options at a glance | Option | What it does | When to use it | | --- | --- | --- | | Delete message | Deletes the message with a link that is not allowed | Open groups where you only want to clean up spam | | Remove member | Deletes the message and removes the sender | Groups with a history of scams and raids | | Allow social media links | Lets Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok and similar through | Creator and networking communities | | Block documents and files | Stops PDF, DOCX, ZIP, RAR, APK sent as documents | Large groups, against malicious files | | Allow text only | Blocks photos, videos, audio, stickers and documents | Announcement groups or text only discussion | | Warning message | Tells the group when a link is removed | When you want members to see the rule | | Whitelist | Allows specific domains and everything inside them | Your site, your store and trusted tools | **************************** ### Recommended setups - **Sales group:** Delete message, Block documents and files and your store domain in the whitelist. Customers talk freely and only your link circulates. - **Announcement group:** Allow text only with the warning message on. Nothing but text gets through. - **Creator community:** Delete message with Allow social media links ticked, so members can show their profiles without opening the door to invites from other groups. - **Job openings group:** Remove member with Block documents and files, since fake links and files are how scams get in. See more in [job openings group without scams](https://9bot.com.br/en/whatsapp-job-openings-group/). ### What the member sees When someone sends a link outside the whitelist, the message disappears from the group. If the warning is on, 9bot posts the message you configured, for example "⚠️ @Marcos, links are not allowed in this group!". If the Forbidden Links trigger is on, the warning goes into the Punishment Ladder and the member gets the message for that step. Want to try it in your group? Start with the [9bot plans with a 7-day trial](https://9bot.com.br/en/start-now/). **Direct answer:** To check whether a WhatsApp message might be fake news, look at the label first: **Forwarded** means the sender didn't write it, and **Forwarded many times** (double arrows) means it already traveled through a chain of five or more chats. Then verify the original source outside WhatsApp before sharing. In the group, the admin deletes risky content, explains why and logs repeat offenders; 9bot helps with link filtering, banned words and strikes. **In short:** - "Forwarded many times" = it passed through 5+ chats; it can only be forwarded to 1 chat at a time. - Regular messages can be forwarded to up to 5 chats at once. - WhatsApp doesn't read content: the forward counter is end-to-end encrypted. - Report the message or group inside WhatsApp and check the source before sharing. ## What recent reports indicate Recent research shows a clear gap: **suspicious links and scams enter the group rapidly**. The admin needs a simple process to decide what stays, what goes, and how to guide the group. - **Scammers use fake profiles** with links resembling familiar domains and groups that appear normal. - **Rotating links or QR codes helps**, but does not solve the problem alone if member entry remains too open. - **Posting restrictions reduce risk**, but still require active monitoring and incident logging. - **Groups without objective rules** take longer to react when false messages start circulating. ## The real impact on the group 1 rumor is enough to hijack the topic and trigger impulsive replies 24/7 moderation must work even when the admin is offline 3 damages loss of trust, increased conflict, and repetitive manual work ## Simple verification protocol A good rule is short, visible, and repeatable. The administrator does not need to write a manual. 1 ### Hold the forward Do not let the message circulate while the source remains unclear. 2 ### Verify the domain Check if the link points to the correct site and does not use strange variations. 3 ### Request context Date, original source, and author matter more than a loose screenshot. 4 ### Remove if risky In case of a scam, remove the message and notify the group objectively. 5 ### Log recurrence Those who repeat rumors after warnings should receive strikes or restrictions. ## Before and after active moderation A job board group with 800 people. Every week false registration links and source-less screenshots appear. ### Before - 08:17 — suspicious link enters the group - 08:21 — members ask if it is true - 08:34 — admin deletes it, but several have clicked - 09:10 — the same rumor returns ### After - 08:17 — anti-link holds the domain out of the rule - 08:17 — the system sends guidance with !check - 08:18 — the event enters the dashboard log - 09:10 — recurrence triggers a warning or restriction ## How 9bot helps in this routine Automation does not replace judgment. It removes mechanical tasks. | Feature | What it does | | --- | --- | | Anti-link | Holds suspicious or unauthorized links | | Anti-spam | Reduces repetition and rapid sequence messages | | Custom commands | Allows creating /rules, /sources and /verify | | Automatic welcome | Explains group policy before the first post | | Metrics and reports | Identifies active hours and members causing extra work | ******************** ## Checklist for fake news and scams Use these signs to identify fake news. The more boxes checked, the higher the risk. Does the news appear in more than one trusted source? Does the link use the correct domain, without swapped letters? Does the message request urgent forwarding? Does the screenshot have a date, source, and context? Does the posting member frequently share this type of content? Does the message involve money, prizes, investments, or external registration? ## How to tell if a WhatsApp message is true "How to check fake news on WhatsApp" and "how to report fake news on WhatsApp" are the top searches. WhatsApp gives native clues every member should know. ### What "Forwarded" and "Forwarded many times" mean - **Forwarded:** the message wasn't written by the person who sent it to you. - **Forwarded many times** (double-arrow icon): it went through a chain of five or more chats and can only be forwarded to one chat at a time. - Regular messages can be forwarded to up to five chats at once; if already forwarded, only one of them can be a group. According to WhatsApp, these limits help curb spam and misinformation, and the forward counter is end-to-end encrypted, so WhatsApp can't see how many times a message was shared ([Help Center: forwarding limits](https://faq.whatsapp.com/1053543185312573/?locale=en_US)). ### How to report fake news on WhatsApp 1. Long-press the message and choose **Report**, or open group info and tap **Report group**. 2. As admin, delete the message for everyone and explain why with a pinned group rule. 3. If it's a scam (fake link, payment request, fake support), follow [How to Prevent Scams in WhatsApp Groups](https://9bot.com.br/en/how-to-prevent-scams-in-whatsapp-groups/). ## Read also - [How to Filter Links and Files in WhatsApp Groups](https://9bot.com.br/en/filter-links-and-files-whatsapp-groups/) - [The Definitive Etiquette Guide for Professional WhatsApp Groups](https://9bot.com.br/en/professional-whatsapp-group-etiquette-guide/) - [The Essential Checklist for Moderating Large WhatsApp Groups](https://9bot.com.br/en/large-whatsapp-group-moderation-checklist/) - [Can a WhatsApp Group Admin Be Held Legally Responsible? What to Know and How to Protect Yourself](https://9bot.com.br/en/whatsapp-group-admin-legal-responsibility/) ## Automatic X-ray screening against hoaxes Managing a highly active group without automated moderation is like being the **chief of security at a busy international airport terminal, attempting to manually open every single suitcase, search every passenger, and resolve boarding gate arguments all at the same time**. The sheer volume of luggage (messages) is overwhelming, security gaps are inevitable, and dangerous items (scams and rumors) easily slip onto the airplane. With **9bot**, it is like installing **state-of-the-art automatic X-ray conveyors equipped with smart security sensors**. The system instantly scans every suspicious link and flags flooding anomalies or restricted keywords in milliseconds. If a high-risk item is detected, the bot intercepts it at the boundary gate before it ever reaches the passenger cabin, securing a smooth, risk-free flight for everyone on board. ## Conclusion Combating fake news in WhatsApp groups requires less talking and more processing. Clear rules, quick verification, automatic moderation, and objective warnings reduce conflict and build trust. For admins of paid communities, businesses, portals, and large groups, 9bot functions as operational support: it applies rules, organizes alerts, and handles repetitive tasks. ![Moderate your WhatsApp groups with less manual work: set up rules, alerts and automated actions with 9bot. 50% OFF: Automate moderation](https://9bot.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2ndBanner-moderacao-EN.gif)[](https://9bot.com.br/en/start-now/) ## Frequently Asked Questions Where can I see the links 9bot deleted? In Moderation > Moderation Deletion Logs, on the Anti-Link tab. That is where the messages removed automatically by the filter are listed. Does the whitelist allow only the exact page or the whole site? The whole site. Each line is a domain and allows any address inside it, with or without www. For example, imgur.com allows imgur.com/abc and www.imgur.com/a/xyz. Does blocking documents also block photos and audio? No. That option only filters files sent as documents, such as PDF, ZIP and APK. To block photos, videos, audio and stickers, use Allow text only. How to identify fake news on WhatsApp? Be suspicious of exaggerated urgency, vague sources, contextless screenshots, strange links, and big promises. Should I delete fake news from the group? Yes, when there is a risk of scams, misinformation, or confusion. Remove it and briefly explain the rule. Does anti-link solve fake news? It helps significantly, but does not replace human judgment. It reduces suspicious links and buys time for the admin to verify. How to deal with a member who repeats rumors? Use warning, strike, and progressive restriction. The rule must be known before punishment is applied. Should the group accept any news links? No. Ideally, only accept known sources or links sent by authorized members. What does "Forwarded many times" mean on WhatsApp? It means the message traveled through a chain of five or more chats. It shows double arrows and can only be forwarded to one chat at a time. How do I report fake news in a WhatsApp group? Long-press the message and choose Report, or go to Group info > Report group. The admin can also delete the message for everyone. Can WhatsApp see how many times a message was forwarded? No. The forward counter is end-to-end encrypted, so only the sender's and recipient's devices can access it. How many chats can I forward a WhatsApp message to? Up to five chats at once. If it was already forwarded, only one can be a group; if it's "forwarded many times", only one chat at a time. ![9bot CTA](https://9bot.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Proteja-as-conversas-da-sua-comunidade-com-o-9bot-EN.png)[ ](https://9bot.com.br/en/start-now/) ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](https://9bot.com.br/sitemap.md) for all pages, and the [glossary](https://9bot.com.br/glossary/) for 9bot terms.