I received this via WhatsApp…”Today on the radio they were talking about Whatsapp Gold. There's a video coming out tomorrow on WhatsApp called Martinelli. Don't open it. It gets into your phone and there's nothing you can do to fix it. Spread the word if you know anyone who uses WhatsApp. If you receive a message to update WhatsApp Gold* Don't open it! They have just announced that the hack is serious.” Is this real, and that WhatsApp message can “get into one’s phone”?
❌ This is largely untrue. The message about "WhatsApp Gold" and the "Martinelli" video is a well-known hoax. Official sources, including WhatsApp, confirm that these warnings are false and have no basis in reality. Cybersecurity experts have debunked this as a persistent hoax since 2017. There is no malicious video or app that can hack phones as described. Ignore and do not forward such messages to prevent spreading misinformation.
Oct 15, 2025