WhatsApp SCAM ALERT: Future update could HALT spread of fraudulent 99p charge messages
WHATSAPP is purportedly working on new notifications to help stop the spread of spam messages throughout the messaging platform, like those which claim the Facebook-owned messenger is planning to introduce a 99p charge for users.
WHATSAPP • GETTY
WhatsApp is purportedly hard at work on a new scam alert system to halt the spread of spam messages.
The system is designed to cut-down on chain-letter style messages by warning users when a message or link has been forwarded 25 times or more from a single device.
According to a report from WhatsAppen.com, the warning will read: “Forwarded Many Times”.
This will appear in the chat bubble, as well as beneath the name and profile picture of the sender.
WhatsApp purportedly hopes the feature will reduce the number of spam links sent around the messenger.
However, it appears the Facebook-owned messaging app does not plan to outright block messages that have been forwarded multiple times.
Instead it wants to make users aware of the potential danger of opening a link that has been forwarded multiple times.
TWITTER • WABETAINFO
In the past, cybercriminals have turned to WhatsApp a number of times to spread fake news.
Most recently, news of a 99p charge for using the hugely-successful messaging app spread around WhatsApp.
The fraudulent message, which has been circulated a number of times in the past, started doing the rounds again earlier this month.
It suggests fans of WhatsApp will soon be forced to pay to keep using it.
The note, which varies slightly between recipients, usually states: “Your subscription has expired. To Verify your account and purchase a lifetime subscription for just 0.99 GBP simply tap on this link.”
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Since 2016, WhatsApp has scrapped all fees with the company saying: “We're happy to announce that WhatsApp will no longer charge subscription fees.
"For many years, we've asked some people to pay a fee for using WhatsApp after their first year. As we've grown, we've found that this approach hasn't worked well.
"WhatsApp will no longer charge you for our service."
Thankfully, the message is a fake. WhatsApp will not be charging users to use the service.
Instead, WhatsApp is experimenting with a new revenue stream – by charging businesses to use the platform to contact customers.
WHATSAPP • ANDROIDPOLICE
Dubbed WhatsApp Business, the new service will allow Facebook, which owns WhatsApp, to monetise the hugely-successful messenger.
WhatsApp COO Matt Idema talked about WhatsApp Business to Fox earlier this year.
Idema said: “We want to put a basic foundation in place to allow people to message businesses and for them to get the responses that they want.
“We do intend on charging businesses in the future.”
An early version of the service has been made available to testers, although there is no official launch date for the general public.
Technology blog Android Police has trawled through the latest beta version and highlighted a number of new features coming to WhatsApp Business.
WhatsApp will support landline numbers for the first time with WhatsApp Business.
That means customers who call or message your landline number will appear within the WhatsApp client.
Customers who would usually use the chat window on a businesses’ website will also now be able to send them a message within WhatsApp.
Since WhatsApp Business is a standalone app, those who run small businesses can keep their current WhatsApp app and conversations intact – and completely separate – from their customers.
WhatsApp Business looks almost identical to the hugely-popular messaging app.
