Technology: Beware of these WhatsApp scams!

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Though India alone accounts to around 20 million WhatsApp users, yet the much celebrated instant messaging application has been a victim of several scams and hoaxes like other messaging platforms. But, where there is a will, there is a way! The trick to stay away from those hoaxes and scams is to ignore them. Here are some of those scams or hoaxes that WhatsApp users are flooded with in recent times:

Video calling invitation in WhatsApp: Before launching any feature on the application, WhatsApp developers roll out the feature on its beta platform for testing. After the feature is tested, WhatsApp team releases the same to worldwide public. Unfortunately, there are some scamsters who take advantage of the feature called ‘feature by invite'. With the help of this, they generate a false invitation and lure users, or rather victims to enable those beta features in advance.

Voucher deals: This scam must have got circulated in everybody's phone by now. This comes in the form of a WhatsApp message from one victim's contact and gradually gets circulated all over. Such messages have tiny URL's inside which redirect the users to unknown websites. These unfamiliar websites can assist hackers to access the user's phone and information. Its better not to click on such links.

WhatsApp Gold / WhatsApp Plus: None of these are official apps from WhatsApp. These are third-party tweaked apps can pose a security threat on the users' phones. These fake applications also enable the third party developers to get access to personal information. Any invitation related to installation of WhatsApp Gold / WhatsApp Plus should be ignored at the foremost instance.

WhatsApp be chargeable: This hoax or rumour is in light since the time WhatsApp has been developed and launched on smartphone platforms. This hoax can be ignored because initially WhatsApp publicly announced that it will be free for one year from the time of installation and thereafter nominal charges will be applicable. However, WhatsApp officially went free for all users.

All WhatsApp users should keep themselves away from such fake messages. They better delete it and at the same time warn every member on their friend list to ignore those messages. Once circulation of such messages stop, then we might be able to control the situation.