WhatsApp itself has said, since the start of last year, it will not charge its customers, and Facebook relies on keeping its service free to users.
If you have received one of these messages, delete it and ignore it instead of passing it on, experts have warned.
There doesn't seem to be any danger to those participating in the hoax, except for wasting their time.
With more than 1 billion monthly users, WhatsApp provides a precious service to people all over the world, keeping them in touch with friends and family.
