WhatsApp Gold: Scammers Trick Mobile Phone Users Into Downloading Malware

WhatsApp Users Tricked in Downloading `WhatsApp Gold’

Unsuspecting WhatsApp users are tricked into downloading `WhatsApp Gold which is a high-class type of the app that tends to infect mobiles with malware. Several app’s users have informed that they have received messages advising them to sign up for the service through the WhatsApp Gold website that has been connected in the message. In the message the invitation link provided is goldenversiondotcom and clicking on it leads to an error 404 message. It is not known how many users have been affected due to this scam. It is said that the app is not available on Apple App store or Google Play store.

 The additional features of the apps which the scammers state had been earlier available to top celebritieswhich comprise of the capability of sending hundreds of pictures instantly, new emojis, enhanced security features, audio-visual calling and added customisation options. The whole thing is babble and downloading the program from the site would only infect the phone with malware probably permitting the cybercriminals to get hold of your data or track your activity and movements. Recently there has been an outbreak of WhatsApp Gold messages though the scam has prevailed in various forms for some time under the name of `WhatsApp Plus’.

Advise of Company – Not to Click Link

Users will essentially be banned if it detects this unauthorised software on their phone as mentioned in the FAQ section of the site that `WhatsApp Plus is an application that was not developed by WhatsApp, nor is it authorised by WhatsApp. WhatsApp Plus developers tend to have no relationship to WhatsApp and we do not support WhatsApp Plus. The company has also mentioned that they would never ask their users to download or upgrade another app over text messages.

 It has also mentioned that it would reach it users over official point of contact such as emails. The company has advised users not to click on the given link within the message. They have also cautioned them that the scam software could pass on private information `to the third parties without the `knowledge or authorisation’ of the user. It also advises the user to instantly uninstall the unauthorised app and urge them to wait 24 hours before they can utilise the real WhatsApp again. This is similar in some way to the Apple ID scam that had hit iPhone users last month.

Disregard/Delete Any Messages – Refrain from Installing

By plundering on the illiteracy of technology, the scammers utilised enticing or worrying grounds in urging individuals to download malware or hand over their delicate information. The best way as usual to evade the WhatsApp Gold scam is to disregard and delete any of the messages which tend to mention it. The only apps to be downloaded should come from the Google Play Store or the App Store.

Should there be any doubt regarding a too-good-to-be-true new app, one should refrain from installing the same.As per a recent report, WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging application in around 109 countries that is approximately 55.6% of the world and the firm tends to have more than a billion active users, monthly. Moreover the report also states that it has over 70 million users in India alone.