Several users received a message informing them that the instant messaging application WhatsApp was going to become paid by transforming into WhatsApp Gold. This is actually a scam dating back several years. The application will indeed remain free.
⋙ Discover our best tips and tricks for using social networks well!
Do you really need to download WhatsApp Gold?
Contrary to what the message received by several users suggests, you should not download the WhatsApp Gold application. This has nothing to do with a new version of the instant messaging application published by Facebook. It is actually malware that aims to steal personal information such as banking data. The application remains free and no paid premium version has been announced.
What is WhatsApp Gold then?
This scam is not new, it was launched in May 2016 according to the American site specializing in information verification Snopes. The message already advised downloading the premium WhatsApp Gold app while referring to a software download link. This post was spotted again in 2019 in Australia.
What about the Martinelli video?
The malicious message also mentions a video called “Martinelli”, first broadcast in Spanish in 2017, which was reported to cause damage to the smartphone on which it is opened. Again, this is a scam and this famous video does not exist.
What to do if you receive a message mentioning WhatsApp Gold?
Following the discovery of this scam, a new alert message circulated on social networks. Unlike the first, it encourages people not to download the fake application or open the “Martinelli” video. Cybersecurity experts urge you not to spread this message if you receive it and to inform the sender that it is misinformation.
Read also :
⋙ WhatsApp: 5 tips for using it well on a daily basis
⋙ WhatsApp: how to add a new contact?
⋙ Whatsapp: our guide to saving, transferring and recovering conversations