Tech Desk 
Sep 30, 2025
Scammers are taking advantage of the high demand for the iOS beta programme for WhatsApp by selling fake invitations through Telegram and tricking excited potential users with fake screenshots, old news, and fake verification badges.
WhatsApp's iOS beta programme is hosted through Apple's TestFlight programme, which is limited to the first 10,000 users that enrol.
Once that 10,000 limit is met, or the programme is momentarily suspended, scammers take advantage of the "scarcity" and advertise "exclusive access".
However, WhatsApp does not charge for beta testing, and all updates they provide are free.
Users have reported being asked to pay between $25 and $50 through one of the friends or family options on PayPal, which removes buyer protection.
Once the payment is made, scammers block users and the users have no recourse for resolving the issue.
Additionally, some Telegram channels pushing the scam may advertise their page as having more than 6,000 followers to further deceive potential users.
According to WABetaInfo, there are seveal number of new scam reports weekly. Scammers tend to take the same updates from the WABetaInfo account and reuse them to lure unsuspecting users with edited screenshots of TestFlight. The scammers tend to appear professional, which adds to the illusion of legitimacy.
WhatsApp has stressed free beta access is always free, and users should only access it through the TestFlight links, as everything is free. Users should refrain from accepting third-party offers to join the programme and only accept updates when they see it reopening.
