WhatsApp 99p lifetime subscription scam: how to stay safe
The WhatsApp 99p lifetime subscription scam is doing the rounds again. If you do receive a message like the one below, delete it immediately.
Scammers are targeting WhatsApp users with a lifetime subscription scam aimed at stealing victims’ banking details.
The scam messages claim the user’s subscription has expired, and are asked to purchase lifetime access for 99p by following the link included.
The page is of course managed by scammers and aimed at garnering payment details.
What the scam message looks like
Above is an example of one of many being shared on social media. In full, the text message reads:
“Your subscription has expired. To verify your account and purchase a lifetime subscription for just 0.99 GBP simply tap on this link”
This is a clever con as WhatsApp did charge users 99p a year to use in the past.
So some users might be duped into believing the app has gone back to its subscription model.
Beat the scammers: keep an eye on your credit report to spot signs of fraudulent activity
What to do if you get it
The app is definitely still free. If you receive the message, delete it immediately. It’s also worth ensuring your anti-virus software is up to date.
Given the popularity of the messaging app, it’s sadly not the first time we’ve seen scammers targeting Whatsapp.
As we wrote about earlier, scammers tried to trick Android phone and tablet users into downloading a malicious ‘upgrade’ called WhatsApp Gold onto their device.
Users received a message claiming they have been given an exclusive chance to make use of an improved version of the popular messaging app, which allows them to make video calls and send 100 photos at once.
It invited users to sign up by clicking on a link, which actually sent them to a fake website page and infected their device with malware.
Keep safe with loveMONEY:
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