Look out for new WhatsApp ‘update’ scam doing the rounds
It is technically not illegal but it will cost you if you do not read the fine print
An SMS campaign which can cost unsuspecting WhatsApp users around R210 a month is doing the rounds in South Africa, eNCA reported.
Tech analyst Liron Segev told eNCA unsuspecting WhatsApp users receive an SMS advising them that their version of the application is outdated. They are then encouraged to click on a link for downloading an upgrade.
First the user will receive an SMS reading “You have not updated to the latest WhatsApp add-ons. Click here now [URL]. (Free MSG) 31655 optout dial 0110621424”.
Clicking on the link takes users to a screen, which asks users to “Update your wall 4 WhatsApp”.
However, if they do not take the time to read the fine print before clicking the green “Continue” button they will find themselves contractually bound to paying R7 a day, which is billed directly to their mobile phone bills.
The fine print informs people that this is actually a subscription to a social network called Buddiechat.
Segev explains that the problem lies in the fact that the scam is ‘not technically illegal’ as the fine print states there is a daily fee of R7.
He says the trap is that some people may think this is purely a message to update their WhatsApp service.
