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Fraud Alert: WhatsApp Pink, Gold, Blue Are Hoax Aimed To Spread Malware on Android
Yogesh Sapkale 30 June 2023
Consumer Interest
Just like the rains come every year, followed by news reports about water logging at several places, cybercrime stories are also about old scams or cheating modules being recycled to dupe new persons. For example, every few months, scammers try to lure people with promises to change the colour of their WhatsApp. The WhatsApp Pink scam from 2021 has resurfaced with so much vigour that the Mumbai police had to issue a red alert about not opening the link and downloading any app. 
 
What's Your Colour?
Sometime in 2015, fraudsters were duping users with WhatsApp Blue. The colour was changed to gold in 2019 and to pink in 2021! But the modus operandi of the fraudsters remains the same. They lure users with a forwarded message and then steal personal data stored on the device.
 
Last week, the north region cyber police station of Mumbai police issued a red alert for Android users on WhatsApp Pink. 
 
 
‘WhatsApp Pink’ is malware being spread through WhatsApp messages that get forwarded from contacts to contacts and from contacts to groups. This message promises to allow the download and install a pink-coloured WhatsApp on the user's Android mobile device.
 
The carefully crafted message containing the malware assures the user of a pink-coloured theme for WhatsApp on their phone after clicking the link in the message. The fake pictures accompanying the message also show chats from a pink-themed WhatsApp. 
 
Since users are eager to install a colourful WhatsApp package, they do not realise that they are being duped into downloading deadly malware that steals their information and readily provide the permissions that the package asks for on the smartphone.
 
In 2015, many WhatsApp users were promised a blue-themed colour on the app, if they open a link from the message, download and install the app. 
 
As expected, getting past this step does not provide the blue variant of WhatsApp; instead, the victim is presented with a set of online surveys to complete, which ask for personal information, advertising another lure: the possibility to win a cool prize.
 
This, and probably collecting the phone numbers, is the end goal of the scam because the crooks make money from the surveys and also sell the victim's personal details to marketers. 
 
The WhatsApp Gold and Silver hoax first surfaced in 2016 and has been doing the rounds since then on a regular basis. The message users received at that time contained a link for downloading the Gold features or installing the Gold version. 
 
The message reads: "Hey Finally Secret Whatsapp golden version has been leaked. This version is used only by big celebrities. Now we can use it too. Whatsapp Gold Contains many advanced features like Whatsapp video calling, Delete the messages you sent by mistake, Send more than 100 pics..."
 
However, when the link is opened, it downloaded some malware. According to fact-checking portal Snopes, when users click on the link, they are potentially downloading malicious software called WhatsApp Gold. 
 
While on the surface, this may appear to be an exclusive update, 'WhatsApp xxxx (colour)' is actually a malicious app designed to steal personal data, including banking details, access one-time passwords (OTPs), photos, and contacts when downloaded onto a device.
 
Remember, even today, there is one and only one version of WhatsApp, which comes in the colour green. There are no Blue, Gold or Silver or Pink versions of WhatsApp. 
 
Talking about modified WhatsApp, two of them, GB WhatsApp and WhatsApp Plus, were quite famous amongst techies and enthusiastic users. The reasons were obvious. These modified versions allowed users to use extra features like changing themes, freeze last seen, hide status views, save status, and one-way read receipts features. But then, in 2018, WhatsApp pulled the plug and started blocking all third-party variants or modified versions of WhatsApp. 
 
Also, remember removing malware from an Android device is not an easy task. Sometimes as a last resort, you may need to format the device to its factory settings or even do a clean install of the operating system. And reformatting and re-installing OS on an Android device requires a lot of time, patience, or money (for paying the professional or the service centre). 
 
How Not to Become a Victim of WhatsApp Colour Scam?
  • Don't click on links shared by unknown people through SMS, e-mail and WhatsApp.
  • Don't download any unauthenticated app on your mobile, suggested through a suspicious SMS, e-mail or WhatsApp.
  • Avoid clicking on links and downloading attachments. Malware, Trojans, which can bring rootkits, spyware or adware with them, often slip into your device disguised as a harmless attachment. 
  • Install a reputable antivirus or anti-malware app: Download and install a trusted antivirus or anti-malware application from the Google Play Store.
 
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