WhatsApp’s upcoming username feature, which allows people to connect without sharing phone numbers, is drawing concerns in India about potential misuse. Multiple reports highlight warnings from entrepreneur Ankur Warikoo, who says fraudsters could create usernames that closely resemble those of public figures. He argues that this could make it harder for users to confirm whether a contact is genuine, increasing the risk of impersonation-based fraud such as requests for money or invitations to scam groups. NDTV describes Warikoo’s warnings as potentially “a disaster in India,” while another report notes that the feature’s privacy benefits are being questioned alongside fears that scammers may exploit new identity formats. The reports also reference broader online discussion about whether Meta and WhatsApp will deploy sufficient safeguards to prevent impersonation and fraud. Overall, the coverage centers on the tradeoff between privacy and identity verification, with Warikoo’s warnings focusing on how similar-looking usernames could undermine trust in how contacts are found and confirmed.