Beware of WhataApp Gold Spam Which Will Steal Your Private Photos

Cyber criminals always try to take advantage of popularity of an app or service through it. WhatsApp is now the latest victim of such criminals, who have come up with something called WhatsApp Gold. However, actually WhatsApp Gold is a scam trying to steal personal data of users including their personal videos and images.

The Independent has reported that several users of WhatsApp are receiving messages to upgrade to an exclusive variant of the app known as WhatsApp Gold. The spammers send a link with the message to users asking them to upgrade the app claiming that this exclusive variant was earlier used by only top celebrities. The message also promises users that the new features such as new themes, free calling, new emojis, ability to send bulk pictures, extended security measures along with more customized options.

This new scheme is just like the previous scam known as 'WhatsApp Plus'. WhatsApp has already said that it will ban the devices which contain this unauthorized malware. The company says on its FAQ page that "WhatsApp did not develop and authorize the application called WhatsApp Plus".

The features offered could well happen in future variants of the messaging app, especially video calling, but may come in the existing app rather than require a new download. Itpro.com posted on May 26th, 2016, stating that is the standard update process and how WhatsApp rolled out end-to-end encryption last month.

The report apparently reads: "Hey finally secret WhatsApp gold version has been leaked and this version is being used by big celebrities. Now we can also use it." Users are then asked to click on the downloaded link to update, which will infect smartphones with a malicious virus.

WhatsApp Gold is not the first scam which has gone viral on the app. There is another spam message became viral, which claimed to be sent by one of the founders asking the user to forward the message to 100 friends to show that they are using otherwise their account would be closed down. Hence, you should warn your family and friends to avoid WhatsApp Gold spam, and should not forward the message.

» SPAMfighter News - 6/2/2016