WhatsApp Gold scam tricks users into installing malware

ByCraig Haley

A scam purporting to offer WhatsApp Gold is fooling WhatsApp users into installing malware onto their phones.

Users of popular mobile messaging app WhatsApp are being tricked into installing malware onto their own phones after receiving an invitation to install WhatsApp Gold.

The invitation, an example of which can be seen below, invites recipients to download WhatsApp Gold that apparently features “many advanced features” including the ability to delete messages sent by mistake and video calling.

whatsapp-gold

“Hey Finally Secret Whatsapp golden version has been leaked, This version is used only by big celebrities.”Now we can use it too ,WhatsApp Gold Contains many advanced features like WhatsApp Video calling , Delete the messages you sent by mistake , Send more than 100 pics at once ,Free calling ,Change WhatsApp themes and tons of great features. This WhatsApp gold can be activated only Via Invites and I am inviting you. Once you activate this WhatsApp gold , your green icon will change to gold and you can enjoy all features 100% safely. Activate WhatsApp Gold with one click at https://www.goldenversion.com/

It certainly sounds tempting, but the big red flag here is the terrible grammar littered throughout the entire message. This is generally a sure fire way of determining if something fishy is going on, which in case there certainly is.

There is no WhatsApp Gold. Or WhatsApp Plus or whatever important sounding name the spammers attach to this type of scam. Those who click the link are prompted to install software onto their phones. Only that software isn’t some advanced type of WhatsApp, it’s malware, which can do any number of nefarious things once it installs on your phone.


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Remember, only download software (apps) onto your phone from trusted sources. For Android users (Android was the worst hit mobile operating system from this attack) this generally means installing software exclusively from the Google Play store, and Apple users can go to the iTunes store. This is the place where legitimate companies go to make their apps available to mobile users, and if WhatsApp ever did make an alternative version of their app (they haven’t though) then this is where it would be made available.

Installing software from untrusted sources is simply asking for trouble.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest cybersecurity threats and our tips to stay safe online. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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