WhatsApp: Beware of these chain letters

Chain letters keep appearing in WhatsApp, asking users to forward the message. In this practical tip, we explain which ones you should pay particular attention to.

WhatsApp candle causes confusion

Chain letters in WhatsApp for iOS and Android often seem harmless, but they cause great excitement afterwards. A "candle of hope" for a good cause can quickly end with a warning.

• Message: The message prompts you to use a WhatsApp candle as a profile picture for 24 hours as a sign for people with cancer. You should then forward the chain letter to your friends.
• Candle picture used: If you have used the candle picture, you will probably receive a short message shortly afterwards, informing you of the copyright infringement. The sender of the message has no rights to use the candle picture. Recipients of the false report are therefore very afraid of receiving a warning with a monetary claim.
• What you can do: To be sure, you can take a picture of a candle yourself and exchange this picture with the candle used in front of it. On the one hand, they serve a good cause and, on the other hand, they do not risk a warning. However, you can also delete the message entirely.

WhatsApp: death threats

A new chain letter causes great anxiety, especially among children and adolescents. The audio message goes around in Lower Saxony and forces users to send the letter or pay with their death.

• Message: A computer voice prompts WhatsApp users to forward the file to at least 20 people. If you do not forward the message, you or your relatives are at risk of death.
• You should do this: These types of chain letters can often not be avoided and cause great anxiety, especially for children. Therefore, if you receive a death threat in WhatsApp, delete the message and do not forward the death threat under any circumstances.

WhatsApp: Send on or pay

WhatsApp users often receive a chain letter asking you to send a message to friends to avoid future payments for WhatsApp. If you take a closer look, you will see that the content of the threat is completely wrong.

• Message: Whether 1 cent fee per message, monthly costs or the message with a direction finder - chain letters do not shy away from overwhelming the user with payments. The payments will only come into force if the user does not send the false report to his friends.
• You should note that: WhatsApp already costs an annual contribution. Even after the purchase by Facebook, this will not change in the foreseeable future. If so, the announcement will certainly not be made public via chain mail. Hoaxes (false reports) like this must not be taken seriously. To avoid panic, you should not forward the message. You can usually tell that the chain letters are wrong by the wrong grammar and spelling.

Chain letter threatens to delete WhatsApp

Error messages that threaten to delete the WhatsApp account are becoming more and more common. These chain letters spread at high speed and cause panic among many users.

• Message: The chain letter prompts you to forward the message. If you do not do this, the chain letter threatens to delete your account. A similar message from Jim Balsamico requests that the chain letter be forwarded within 48 hours. Otherwise your account would be deleted. The reactivation of the account is associated with a monthly bill of 25 euros.
• What you can do: The Austrian association Mimikama.at points out that this is an error message. As a WhatsApp user, you should not forward such messages. Tell other users that this is a hoax.

In the next practical tip, read how to forward WhatsApp voice messages.