A fake WhatsApp clone is showing up before the real version on the Play Store

What happened

According to The Verge’s source item, A fake WhatsApp clone is showing up before the real version on the Play Store, After a Chrome clone was spotted on the Play Store earlier this week, a user on Reddit says they’re seeing a fake version of WhatsApp in a “sponsored” slot above the real version. As reported earlier by Android Authority, the WhatsApp dupe has racked up over 500,000 downloads and, at the time of writing, its […] After a Chrome clone was spotted on the Play Store earlier this week, a user on Reddit says they’re seeing a fake version of WhatsApp in a “sponsored” slot above the real version . As reported earlier by Android Authority , the WhatsApp dupe has racked up over 500,000 downloads and, at the time of writing, its Play Store listing is still live . Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The WhatsApp clone is from a developer going by “Agment Assets sallu” who doesn’t currently have anything else listed on the Play Store. Their listing for the WhatsApp impo

Context

The development sits in VINI’s Technology file for readers following technology, science, product policy, markets, infrastructure, and the public consequences of innovation. The original report is linked so readers can check the source account, follow later updates, and compare new coverage against the first published record. The source item is dated 2026-10-16T15:02:23+00:00.

What to watch

Open questions include whether primary sources issue follow-up statements, whether local or market impacts become clearer, and whether additional reporting changes the timeline or adds material context.

Source

Primary source: A fake WhatsApp clone is showing up before the real version on the Play Store via The Verge. VINI cites and links the source; it does not reproduce the publisher’s full article text without rights clearance.