Android Authority and The Verge reported on October 16, 2026, that a WhatsApp lookalike remained listed on Google Play when they published their reports. They identified the developer as “Agment Assets sallu” and said the listing copied material from the genuine app. Android Authority and The Verge also reported a download counter above 500,000. If you installed an unofficial WhatsApp app, WhatsApp advises uninstalling it, installing WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business from its website, and registering your phone number again.
What the reported listing displayed
Android Authority said the listing copied WhatsApp’s screenshots and description; The Verge also reported that it used the genuine app’s icon. A screenshot posted by Reddit user Unlucky-Bridge-4826 displays a WhatsApp-style icon, the truncated name “WhatsApp Mes...” and the developer name “Agment Assets sallu.”
The screenshot’s “5L+” label uses lakh notation. A commenter in the Reddit thread explained that one lakh equals 100,000, so the label indicates more than 500,000 on the listing’s counter.
Sponsored placement varied by search
Some users reported seeing the lookalike as a sponsored result. Android Authority said its own mobile and web searches showed the official WhatsApp app first; Reddit user 2ne1cheese reported a sponsored placement in a post cited by the outlet.
A separate Chrome imitation
In a separate case, Libero reported that a Chrome imitation first appeared as the game “Ball Bounce,” then changed its name and appearance to resemble Chrome on September 30, 2026. Libero later reported that the app had been removed, without specifying the removal date. Libero’s report described a different listing from the WhatsApp lookalike.
What WhatsApp recommends after installing an unofficial app
WhatsApp advises users to uninstall the unofficial app, download WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business from WhatsApp’s website, and register their phone number again. The company says chat-history transfer is not guaranteed for unsupported unofficial apps.
