Old hoax about WhatsApp ‘ending tomorrow at 6 pm’ circulating again in South Sudan, but here’s the truth

By 211 Check Editorial Team

The infamous Varun Pulyani WhatsApp message has reappeared. The fake message purporting to be from WhatsApp’s director, Varun Pulyani, has been circulating once more since the platform’s decision to update its privacy policy sparked outrage among users. The fake message, which has previously circulated on several occasions, claims that the platform will begin charging money unless users spread the message.

“Do not ignore please read it carefully” Hello, I am VARUN PULYANI director of whatsapp, this message is to inform all our users that we have sold whatsapp to Mark Zuckerberg for 19 billion dollars. WhatsApp is now controlled by mark zuckerberg. If you have at least 20 contacts, send this text message and your whatsapp logo will change to a new icon with the “f” of facebook in 24 hours. Forward this message to more than 10 people to activate your new whatsapp with facebook services or else your account will be removed from the new servers,” says the fake WhatsApp message.

The message goes on to say that “the platform’s servers have recently been very congested, which is why we are asking for your assistance.” This issue has been resolved. We require our active users to forward this message to each of their contacts in order to confirm our active users using WhatsApp; if you do not forward this message to all of your contacts, WhatsApp will begin charging you, (SIC).”

“If you do not send this message to all your contacts, WhatsApp will then start to charge you. Your account will remain inactive with the consequence of losing all your contacts,” the message reads

Users should be aware, however, that there is no Varun Pulyani in WhatsApp, and that the platform only disseminates information through its official blog or social media handles. VARUN PULYANI is not, and has never been, a WhatsApp director. The message that is going around is a hoax. 

Debunked in 2012 and many times since

A simple search on Google shows that different versions of this message have been circulating for at least nine years. 

And they’ve been debunked several times. One of the latest reports was a January 2020 fact-check by Africa Check and an October 2021 report by DataQuest. At the time, a post on the WhatsApp blog dismissed the messages as “a hoax”.

WhatsApp advisory on hoax messages

On its website, WhatsApp advises users that unwanted messages from unauthorised third parties try to “deceive you and prompt you to act in a certain way.” It lists four signs of hoax messages:

• The sender claims to be affiliated with WhatsApp.

• The message content includes instructions to forward the message.

• The message claims you can avoid punishment, like account suspension, if you forward the message.

• The message content includes a reward or gift from WhatsApp or another person.

South Sudan WhatsApp users are being targeted by this hoax, but when you receive a scam message, WhatsApp advises that you block the sender, disregard the message and delete it. – 211 Check

Conclusion:

211 Check, therefore, concludes that the WhatsApp message and audio circulating are a HOAX, disregard the message and do not forward it further.

To know more about our fact-checking process, visit:  https://211check.org/how-to-fact-check/ or send us a WhatsApp Message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim, our team will immediately fact-check it and send you a feedback.