WhatsApp SCAM ALERT: Future update could HALT spread of fraudulent 99p charge messages

WhatsApp’s new scam alert tool could stop the spread of fraudulent messagesWHATSAPP • GETTY

WhatsApp’s new scam alert tool could stop the spread of fraudulent messages

is purportedly hard at work on a new scam alert system to halt the spread of spam messages.

The system is designed to cut-down on chain-letter style messages by warning users when a message or link has been  forwarded 25 times or more from a single device. 

According to a report from WhatsAppen.com, the warning will read: “Forwarded Many Times”.

This will appear in the chat bubble, as well as beneath the name and profile picture of the sender.

WhatsApp purportedly hopes the feature will reduce the number of spam links sent around the messenger.

However, it appears the Facebook-owned messaging app does not plan to outright block messages that have been forwarded multiple times.

Instead it wants to make users aware of the potential danger of opening a link that has been forwarded multiple times.

The warning message appears in a number of places across the appTWITTER • WABETAINFO

The warning message appears in a number of places across the chat app

In the past, cybercriminals have turned to WhatsApp a number of times to spread fake news.

Most recently, .

The fraudulent message, , started doing the rounds again earlier this month.

It suggests fans of WhatsApp will soon be forced to pay to keep using it.

The note, which varies slightly between recipients, usually states: “Your subscription has expired. To Verify your account and purchase a lifetime subscription for just 0.99 GBP simply tap on this link.”

Since 2016, WhatsApp has scrapped all fees with the company saying: “We’re happy to announce that WhatsApp will no longer charge subscription fees. 

“For many years, we’ve asked some people to pay a fee for using WhatsApp after their first year. As we’ve grown, we’ve found that this approach hasn’t worked well.

“WhatsApp will no longer charge you for our service.”

Thankfully, the message is a fake. WhatsApp will not be charging users to use the service.

Instead, – by charging businesses to use the platform to contact customers.

WhatsApp is rolling out its all-new Business app to a few beta testersWHATSAPP • ANDROIDPOLICE

WhatsApp is rolling out its all-new Business app to a few beta testers

Dubbed WhatsApp Business, the new service will allow Facebook, which owns WhatsApp, to monetise the hugely-successful messenger.

WhatsApp COO Matt Idema talked about WhatsApp Business to Fox earlier this year.

Idema said: “We want to put a basic foundation in place to allow people to message businesses and for them to get the responses that they want.

“We do intend on charging businesses in the future.”

An early version of the service has been made available to testers, although there is no official launch date for the general public.

Technology blog has trawled through the latest beta version and highlighted a number of new features coming to WhatsApp Business.

WhatsApp will support landline numbers for the first time with WhatsApp Business.

That means customers who call or message your landline number will appear within the WhatsApp client.

Customers who would usually use the chat window on a businesses’ website will also now be able to send them a message within WhatsApp.

Since WhatsApp Business is a standalone app, those who run small businesses can keep their current WhatsApp app and conversations intact – and completely separate – from their customers.

WhatsApp Business looks almost identical to the hugely-popular messaging app.