Fake WhatsApp Clone Tops 500,000 Downloads on Google Play

A fake app calling itself WhatsApp Messenger has been downloaded more than 500,000 times on Google Play. It was spotted by a Reddit user and then reported by Android Authority and The Verge. According to the user, the fake listing appeared in a "Sponsored" slot above the real WhatsApp. The app is published by an account named Agment Assets sallu, which has no other apps on Google Play. The listing copies the real WhatsApp's icon, screenshots and description text. Android Authority says the page has been live since September, and it was still available when the reports came out on October 16. Android Authority suggests the app may be abusing Google Play's Early Access program, which disables public user reviews and makes it harder for people to warn others. The discovery came just days after a fake Google Chrome listing that passed 100,000 downloads before being removed. Google did not immediately respond to The Verge's request for comment. To stay safe, always check the developer name under the app title before installing. The real WhatsApp is published by WhatsApp LLC and has more than 10 billion downloads and over 246 million reviews. If the WhatsApp installed on your phone lists a different developer, uninstall it right away and review your WhatsApp account security settings.