A VIRAL hoax message is scaring WhatsApp users by claiming the app has been banned.
The voice message also claims that users will be charged for using the app.
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The viral message seems to have been around since 2019 but sometimes begins to circulate again in different variations.
It’s a big problem in India and even The Indian Express has had to debunk it in the past.
Hoaxers have designed the message so that people feel pressurised to forward it on to other WhatsApp users.
According to News Meter, an English translation of the message states: “If you do not share this message, your WhatsApp will become invalid.”
It claims that WhatsApp will be going offline due to a “central government” decision and that there are too many WhatsApp users which it says “is not good for the country”.
Like with most hoax messages, this is a ridiculous and false claim.
It’s just a scammer trying to scare people so they forward on the message and keep the chain going.
It claims you need to send the message to 50 people but later says you only need to send it to eight people to keep your account active.
The hoaxer wants WhatsApp users to believe they’ll start being charged 499 Indian rupees a month if they don’t do what they’re told.
That’s the equivalent of around £4.85/$6.61.
The most important thing to note is that this message is a scam and you should never forward it or anything similar on to other WhatsApp users.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
