Tips to avoid WhatsApp viruses, scams and hoaxes

Often, you have come across a number of scams, hoaxes, and viruses in your WhatsApp application. The latest WhatsApp scam is amongst the most dangerous ones till now. This is because users can download viruses to their devices. Here are some tips and tricks that will help you prevent your handset from getting infected after opening links that you receive via some messages.

How to Avoid WhatsApp malware and virus

The most recent WhatsApp scam is not brought by WhatsApp itself but via the email application. The scam says that you’ve a WhatsApp voice message or have missed a WhatsApp call and that you should hit on the link sent in to your email address.Rather than getting the message or the call, you download a virus to your smartphone.  So make sure you don’t get fooled. WhatsApp has never contacted anyone outside the application itself. If this happens, don’t click on the link, instead, delete the message.

WhatsApp Gold – the ‘premium version’ is a scam

According to Softpedia, the scam has hit many users in some Europe countries such as Spain. This scam involves endorsing a gold or premium version of WhatsApp version said to have special backgrounds and emoticons.The version even claims that it can delete messages after you have sent them and also send 100 pictures simultaneously. This sounds awesome, but it is entirely made up. Clicking the link exposes you to malware infection. So delete it as soon as you see it.

WhatsApp Chain Message Hoaxes

There’s also another scam on WhatsApp that tells active users to forward a certain message to 15 persons or the services closes down. However, WhatsApp has more than one billion active users and it can’t make a different if you send this message to 15 other people.There is also this hoax that suggests there many WhatsApp active users and your accounts will close if you do not use it for a while. This message seems to come from the CEO of WhatsApp, Jim Balsamic.Moreover, there is this hoax that informs you that WhatsApp will begin charging inactive users per message they send. The very same hoax says that you can avoid all this by forwarding the message to 10 active users.

Spy on your friends

Some scam people are busy promoting application that can spy on your friend’s conversations. However, these applications load viruses and malware to your smartphone. This makes you prone to being spied on.

Tips to avoid scams and viruses

Meanwhile, WhatsApp is offering the following tips on its blog in case you suspect you are receiving hoax messages or viruses on the service.You may be a victim of the above scams and hoaxes if you receive the following messages via email or WhatsApp:

• Message claiming you can elude dire punishment like your account being suspended by forwarding a message.
• A message where the sender claims to be affiliated with the service.
• Message includes a gift or reward such as a free WhatsApp subscription.
• The content of the message has instructions to forward the message.

Source: Reportajede