Beware of Scam Posts Offering New Colors For WhatsApp

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If you use WhatsApp, keep an eye out for fraudulent messages claiming that you can click to get new colours for your app.

The messages, which come from your WhatsApp contacts or groups, will look something like this:

If you follow the link in the post, you will be taken to a webpage that claims that you can now “change your WhatsApp and leave it with your favourite color”.

If you click the “Activate Now” button, you will be taken to a second scam page that claims that, before gaining access to the new colours, you must first verify that you are an active WhatsApp user by inviting 10 friends or sharing on 5 groups.

After inviting your friends or sharing to your groups, you will then be provided with a link that supposedly allows you to install the “new colors” update. However, clicking the link actually prompts you to install a dodgy adware extension from the Chrome webstore.

Despite its appearance, the message and associated browser extension have no connection to WhatsApp. You should be very wary of any message that claims that you must verify that you are an active user by sending invites or sharing to groups. This is a common scammer ruse.

Similar WhatApp scam messages have promised users new features or have claimed that users must update to a new version. Again, these fraudulent messages are designed to trick users into downloading malware or rogue apps and visiting spam websites. And, like this version, the scam messages trick people into spamming their friends with the same fake offers.

If you receive one of these bogus messages, do not follow any links that it contains.

Always get any updates for WhatsApp via the official app store for your device. The WhatsApp website includes a download page that directs you to the correct download site for the device you are using.