14 DAY TRIAL // WhatsApp will not start charging users. However, hoax messages that started circulating online a couple of days ago claim that “WhatsApp will become chargeable.”
The hoax message reads something like this:
“Saturday morning whatsapp will become chargeable. If you have at least 10 contacts send them this message. In this way we will see that you are an avid user and your logo will become blue and will remain free. (As discussed in the paper today. Whatsapp will cost 0.01€ per message. Send this message to 10 people. When you do the light will turn blue otherwise whatsapp activate billing.”
As Hoax Slayer highlights, none of this is true. This is not the first time such a scam message is making the rounds online. An older variant claimed the logo turned red for free accounts.
Back in early January 2012, the company published a blog to warn users about such scams.
If you come across such messages, simply ignore them. If WhatsApp or other popular instant messaging platform starts costing money, you’ll surely learn about it from trusted news websites.