Ghanaian-Nigerian actress Nadia Buari has raised concerns over WhatsApp’s newly introduced username feature, warning that it could create fresh opportunities for fraudsters and online impersonators if users are not careful.
The actress shared her concerns in a post on her Instagram page after attempting to create a username for her WhatsApp account, only to discover that every variation of her name had already been claimed.
According to Buari, the experience left her both frustrated and worried about how quickly impersonators appear to be exploiting the platform’s latest feature.
“Why are people like this???… I was trying to create this WhatsApp username thing, only to realize every single variation of my name is already gone. Every. Single. One. Nadia Buari… Taken. Nadia S Buari… Taken. NSB… Taken. Even theNadiaBuari—like, seriously?!” she wrote.
She described the situation as “exhausting” and “kind of scary,” suggesting that fraudsters are constantly looking for new ways to impersonate public figures and deceive unsuspecting users.
Buari warned fans to remain vigilant, stressing that scammers often move quickly to take advantage of new digital features before genuine users have a chance to secure their identities.
“At this point, it’s clear fraudsters and imposters are lurking everywhere, ready to snatch up anything just to mislead people. Please, be careful out there and stay vigilant—because if they’re this quick with usernames, imagine what else they’re up to,” she added.
WhatsApp’s new username feature is designed to allow users to connect without sharing their phone numbers, offering greater privacy and flexibility. However, its rollout has also sparked concerns about the potential for impersonation if malicious actors register usernames that closely resemble those of celebrities, brands or public figures.
While Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has said it is introducing safeguards to prevent impersonation—including reserving usernames for high-profile individuals and implementing systems to detect abuse—Buari’s experience has renewed public discussion about the risks associated with the feature.
Her warning comes amid growing global scrutiny of the username system. Authorities in countries such as India have already expressed concerns that the feature could make phishing scams, identity theft and online fraud easier if not properly regulated.