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Whatever you do, don't upgrade to WhatsApp Gold

It's not what it claims to be

Whatever you do, don't upgrade to WhatsApp Gold
24 May 2016

WhatsApp Gold heralds a new level of instant messaging delights previously exclusive to "celebrity users": smooth video chats; the ability to send 100 images at once; a feature that allows you to delete messages after you've sent them.

There's just one catch - it's not real. 

If you receive a message that looks like the above, whatever you do, don't click it. 

This link will actually take you to a website filled with malware - malicious software that you really don't want to be exposing your phone to.

It's not clear who has initiated this erroneous message or is in control of the website it leads people to, but we doubt their intentions are of the friendly sort. At present, the website presents a 404 error, but it's best to avoid clicking the link should it come back online. Rest assured, WhatsApp isn'offering a new Gold service.

Confusingly, there is a service called WhatsApp Plus Gold, an unofficial third party app that adds to the various features of regular WhatsApp. You won't be able to find it in the app store, but curious types can see how it all works in the video below. We aren't recommending you download it, as it hasn't been vetted by Google or Apple, and could be opening up your phone to all manner of security risks.