The WhatsApp privacy policy – everything you need to know

whatsapp Privacy policy

Have you decided to delete WhatsApp? Or are you going crazy about how WhatsApp can be so lazy about data privacy? If the answer to the above questions is yes, then you should read this article.

The Internet went crazy on the new WhatsApp privacy policy and Twitter gets flooded with tweets about how people should leave WhatsApp and jump to other alternatives.

Elon Musk tweeted “use signal” and the app crossed 7.5 million downloads but in all this havoc, did you tried reading the privacy policy or understand what exactly it means?

If the answer is no, then Let’s find out!

The Initial Days of Whatsapp Privacy Policy:

Facebook bought WhatsApp in 2014 for $19billion! Crazy money for such a simple and free app right?

Wrong! In 2014 WhatsApp had a user base of 500 million and thousands of people were joining WhatsApp every single day.

Facebook didn’t invest in a simple free app that lets people chat rather they invested in the user base that WhatsApp was acquiring. The initial plans of Facebook were to show ads on WhatsApp, but the co-founder of WhatsApp was against the ads.

This led him to quit the company and start another messaging app called “signal”. Yes, this is the same app that Elon Musk was talking about.

Here’s What WhatsApp is Saying:

Let’s put an end to all the confusion and see what Whatsapp has to say about all of the rumors going around.

  • Whatsapp can hear calls or read messages?: WhatsApp clearly clarified that all the messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted and no one can access them. Whatsapp can’t hear the calls or read the messages.
  • Logs of messaging and calling: Whatsapp clearly stated that keeping the logs of calling and messaging of 2 billion users can be a big privacy and security risk therefore they don’t save this data.
  • Can WhatsApp share your location data: Whatsapp stated that when someone shares their location details on WhatsApp, no one can access that information apart from the person it is sent to.
  • Whatsapp stated that for additional privacy one can go for disappearing messages. One needs to turn it on and the messages get deleted after seven days.

So What is Changed?

Whatsapp has clearly said that messaging with businesses is different than talking to your family or friends. Some of the large business has to use hosting services to manage their chats with their customers.

Therefore to manage such large chats, WhatsApp is giving the option to businesses to use Facebook’s secure hosting services.

But when a user interacts with a business, WhatsApp will store that information for its own marketing purposes. This information can be used to show personalized ads to you.

The Bigger Problem:

But is getting personalized ads a problem? Well for a lot of people it’s not a very big issue. As WhatsApp, if a free app and advertisement is their only source of making money.

The bigger problem is this data getting hacked! Numerous big companies have faced cyber-attacks and tons of data has been hacked.

This could lead to serious problems as this makes extremely sensitive data available in the wrong hands which can be used for the wrong purposes.

So what should the people do?

Shall we delete WhatsApp?

Well if you are a fan of shorter answers then the answer is, No!

Whatsapp helps us stay connected to our family and friends and leaving WhatsApp just because of a movement on social media is not exactly the right thing to do. So what shall we do?

Follow digital privacy and don’t do anything stupid! Here’s what you should know:

  • Keep strong passwords for the various accounts that you have. Don’t simply use your name or your phone numbers as a password. The best habit is to use a random password generator to generate the most secure passwords.
  • Don’t keep your passwords saved on WhatsApp chats. This can be a big mistake. This will destroy your effort of keeping a strong password. Instead, use password managers like LastPass or 1password.
  • Track the permissions the app is taking. Check what permissions do the apps on your phone take and if you don’t use an app a lot and if it’s taking a lot of permissions then go to the setting and disable the permissions.
  • Remove the messages and camera permission from the apps which do not needs it and are still asking for the permissions.
  • Don’t put your information on random websites on the internet, they can be phishing pages trying to steal your data.

The Final Message:

Never rely on a single app.No one knows when they change their privacy policies and something bad happens. Be comfortable with the change.

Start using apps like Signal or other alternatives to the popular apps trying to steal data.

Data security is a big issue for the time. The more online the generation gets the more important data security will become.

Till the Indian government comes if, with strong digital privacy law, you yourself are liable to stay safe online.

Make sure you follow all the cybersecurity guidelines.

That’s it for this article, Stay safe! And if you ever need help with consumer complaints, Voxya is always there for you!

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Mis-selling Health insurance policies – 5 Things to check before you buy a new one

Health Insurance Policy complaint

Mis-selling health insurance policies is quite common in the market. There are thousands of people that face similar problems. Brokers do all the promises in the world to sell you an insurance policy after which they hardly even show their faces!

If you are someone who is planning to get an insurance policy. Then this article is only for you. In this article, we will see 5 things that you should check before buying health insurance in India.

5 Things to check before Health insurance policies in India

Let’s take a look at the 10 things before taking Health Insurance Policies:

The Age Criteria

Health Insurance Complaint

When it comes to health insurance, age is one of the biggest factors to check. While buying health insurance keep in mind the age of the people who are insured in the policy.

In a family floater policy, The premium cost would be determined by the age of the eldest family member.

When purchasing health insurance, you can also consider the age limit criterion. For example, certain insurance plans have a minimum age requirement of 91 days and a maximum age requirement of up to 60 years.

There are also proposals for a minimum age limit of 25 years and a maximum age limit of 50 years. There are some plans, however, that do not have any age limits. As a result, you have the choice of making the appropriate decision.

The Right Combination of Premium and Coverage

Buying health insurance with the lowest premium can be lucrative. However, there are two sides to any story. A policy with a lower premium can be beneficial if it offers extensive coverage at a premium you can afford. The other benefit is a lower premium for insurance coverage.

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Thus, the safest way is to investigate the explanations for a lower premium, which does not come at the expense of insurance coverage. Check to see if there are any additional co-payment, deductible, or sub-limit provisions; if there are, you will end up paying more at the time of claim.

The Waiting Period Clause

You would be in a better position to make a decision if you are mindful of the waiting period clause. During this time, the insurer would not consider any claims resulting from pre-existing conditions or specific illnesses.

And it will last anywhere between 24 and 48 months, depending on the insurer and the package you choose. Furthermore, you will be entitled to seek benefits only after this time span has passed.

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This waiting period would extend to any pre-existing conditions such as thyroid disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and so on that, a person might have until purchasing the policy. It also applies to various treatments and diseases such as arthritis, varicose veins, cataracts, and so on.

As a result, you can compare and pick a package that has a short waiting time before you can receive benefits in the event of a medical emergency.

Claim Process

You should Examine the policy’s terms and conditions, as well as the insurance company’s health insurance claim procedure. When it comes to settling health disputes, a smooth claim process is a lifesaver.

health insurance complaint

You may do some research, read online consumer feedback, and choose a health insurance company with a reputation for fast claim settlement.


Coverage of Maternity Expenses

Many people make the mistake of ignoring the maternity benefits of their health insurance program. With the cost of delivery and prenatal care now at an all-time high, it’s a good idea to invest in a health plan that includes maternity coverage. Usually, there is a 2- to 4-year waiting period before you can seek benefits.

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For example, if you want to get married or start a family in three years, a plan with a two-year waiting period would suffice.

Choose a package that, in addition to the delivery fee, covers the medical costs of a newborn infant. Often, don’t forget to look at the constraints that come with it.

The Conclusion
Congratulations you are safe now! Now that you are aware of the things to check before buying health insurance in India make sure that you don’t get yourself into fraud and get missold by a broker!

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If you are looking for a solution to a health insurance complaint then file a complaint at Voxya an online consumer complaint forum to resolve your complaints quickly. It helps consumers to get a replacement, refund and compensation as soon as possible. Voxya an online consumer forum trusted by 76,000+ consumers across India.

How To Resolve OLX Scams? Everything That You Need To Know

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If you have ever bought used products online, then there is a very high chance that you are already familiar with the variety of Olx scams going on. A platform created to buy or sell used products online has become a hub for online scams.

Complaint against olx scam

So If you are someone who unluckily got into a trap and had losses then don’t worry you are at the right place. In this article we will take a look at the following topics:

  • Popular ways fraudsters are using to scam people.
  • How to stay safe on OLX or from Olx scams
  • How to resolve OLX scams if you got into one

Half of the problems can be solved just by staying conscious of what exactly you are doing. If you are aware of the right way to use a platform and the ways these fraudsters use to scam people then there is a very high chance that you will never get into these scams.

How people on OLX get scammed:

Fraudsters are always in search of new ways to scam people but here is a list of some of the most popular ways used by them:

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Posing as defense personal: There are hundreds of complaints where the buyer or the seller claimed to be a defense personal and showcased fake ID proofs to gain trust. Lastly, they either asked for advance payments and never replied to the messages or used QR codes to cheat people.

QR code scams: Here people send QR codes claiming to give advance payments and ask the other person to scan a QR code in order to receive the payments but instead of crediting the amount, the amount gets debited.

OTP Scams: There are many cases reported where the fraudsters will first send a small amount of Rs.5 or Rs.10 to you to win your trust. Then they will send you a similar-looking request, which is in fact a payment collection request, and as soon as you share the OTP you will lose money. They will tell you that OTP is required to transfer a bigger amount in OLX.

Asking for advanced payments: Never pay a stranger online without surety. There could be a big chance that they will stop responding to your calls and messages once they receive the advance amount.

There could be hundreds of ways that these fraudsters are using but just knowing the basics will keep you safe. But there are people who wish to buy a used product online and just because there are scams going on doesn’t mean you will stop using OLX.

How to safely use OLX:

olx logo

If you still wish to buy a used product online and shop from OLX then there are some rules that you always check before using the platform. Some of the most important regulations that you should use:

Prefer a physical meeting with the buyer/seller and exchange your product with money. Use safe public places to meet any stranger.

Avoid partial payments and pay only when you are fully sure of something. Be aware of the payment scams going on. A few of the payment scams were mentioned above in this article.

Check for the buyer’s/seller information on the internet, don’t randomly decide to buy from any person just because you are getting a good offer, it can be a trap.

Don’t get into the trap of offers that are too good to be true. If something looks fishy avoid it.

How to resolve OLX scams if you got into one:

No one knows when things will go bad, and if you unluckily got trapped into OLX scams then don’t worry we will tell you the possible ways to get out of it:

Option 1: Reach out to OLX

If you have got scammed then you should report the ad or the seller to OLX. Report the ad or the seller on the app or on the website. You should also consider writing an e-mail to safety@olx.in or call them on 9999140999.

Option 2: Send Legal Notice to OLX

Sometimes even after reporting a Seller or Ad, you will not get any help from OLX. In all those cases, you can start a social media campaign against OLX and can tweet on social media. If you still do not get any results then your best choice is to send a professionally drafted Legal Notice to OLX asking them to fix the issue, or you will sue them in court.

online consumer complaint forum India

You may hire any professional advocate or lawyer on your behalf to draft & send this legal notice to the company. You can easily get an accomplished lawyer who will charge between Rs.3500 to Rs.8000 for legal notice on his letterhead. But if you are unable to find a competent lawyer in your budget then you can use Voxya to send the Legal Notice for just Rs.899 only.

Option 3: Reach out to the nearest legal authority

Because of the higher cyber crimes, all the police stations have cyber cells to catch the cybercriminals. You should reach out to the nearest police station and file a complaint.

The legal authorities can help you resolve the complaints and can save you from the losses that you may have to face.

consumer complaint against olx

Your savior in consumer complaints:

Voxya is an online consumer complaint forum. It enables the user to file consumer complaints against brands quickly. It helps the user in fighting against fraud and unresponsive customer service. Voxya is known for its quality services at reasonable pricing.

Voxya has handled more than 76,000 consumer complaints till now and consumers have claimed damages of around 2200 crores. This clearly shows the authority of Voxya in consumer complaints. You can resolve Olx scams complaint using Voxya an online consumer complaint platform.

online consumer forum

The Final Conclusion!

Congratulations, you are safe now! Now that you know the whole story of the online scammers the probability of you getting scammed is already less now!

But if you have already got scammed then you know what exactly you have to do now. And no that you know the exact procedure, what are you waiting for? Resolve your complaints now!

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5 tips for avoiding fraudulent websites: Never get scammed again

fraudulent websites

The Internet is a boon, isn’t it? No matter what problem you may have you will always find some solution on the internet. But when the whole world is hanging out on a network then how come fraudsters or fraudulent websites by behind?

Internet fraud is constantly rising. While some websites are doing malpractices like saving passwords and data leaking, some fraudsters have gone to the next level to take personal information and steal money.

So if you are also someone who does a lot of their tasks on the internet and you don’t want your hard-earned money to vanish into thin air then this article is only for you!

5 tips for avoiding fraudulent websites: Never Get Scammed Again

In this article, we will explore 5 tips for avoiding fraudulent websites so that you never get scammed again. So let’s take a look at the 5 tips:

Offers “Too Good To Believe” Are Scams!

Are you getting an offer that is too good to believe? Huge discounts, cashback, or what not. Getting such offers is a real scam, you may be asked to pay before and the product will never be delivered. So if you see a too exciting offer that is probably a red flag.

Lots of popular eCommerce websites also organize great sales so before buying any product, do your research well and check how trusted these websites are. Also, confirm your website not coming under fraudulent websites.

Voxya has created this list of most fraud e-commerce and fraudulent websites, which have looted people doing various scams. There’s also a list of phone numbers that are constantly reported for e-commerce scams.

Low-Quality Websites are a red flag:

A lot of times, you can actually smell scams! Always check the quality of the websites as most of the time these scammers don’t give attention to the tiny details of the websites.

A lot of websites look like scams on the first look itself. So before purchasing anything just do thorough research on the website and check how the quality of the website is. If you think that the quality isn’t great then it’s a red flag.

Consumer Complaint

Voxya’s list mentioned above contains a list of eCommerce brands that have looted people. If you want to stay safe just check for the list and see if the website that you are buying from is there on the list or not.

If it’s there on the list, it’s definitely a scam but even if it’s not there you still should check all the parameters that we are listing here.

Check Owner’s Information and the Contact Details:

Most of the time these fraud websites never display their correct contact information and the name of the owner is always hidden so while buying from an unknown website always check if they have a legit contact option.

Also, check for the owner of the website for once. If you can’t find the owner then this can be a red flag as they are using a proxy to protect themselves.

While buying from unknown websites always check if a cash-on-delivery option is available or not and for the first few purchases prefer using that option only. Pay upfront money to only those websites on which you trust and are sure that they are not scams.

Social media check is important:

Social Media Campaign

You are probably not the first customer of a website! People around the world or your country must have used the product before. Before buying a product always check the product and the website reviews on various social media platforms.

People always create reviews on YouTube and a lot of people add complaints on Twitter. If you research well you will find something useful.

If there are more bad reviews than the good ones then probably it’s not a good place to do shopping from and is a big red flag.

So before you buy any product from any website, checking social media websites for reviews is a must!

Check Voxya for company reviews:

Consumer Complaint Forum

Voxya deals with thousands of consumer complaints hence Voxya is very well acquainted with the reality of the companies.

Before deciding to buy a product from a certain company you can also prefer to read the reviews on Voxya’s websites as thousands of people who have faced difficulties have shared their experiences there.

If you follow all the tips mentioned above you will never be scammed again! So next time you are shopping online keep the 5 tips in mind!

But what to do if you got scammed? Don’t worry Voxys is always there for you!

If you are someone who got scammed by an eCommerce company then read this article: How to resolve e-commerce complaints.

If you don’t want to get into any hassle and want experts to handle your issue then you should definitely check Voxya.

Voxya is an online consumer complaint forum. It enables the user to file consumer complaints against brands quickly. It helps the user in fighting against fraud and unresponsive customer service. Voxya is known for its quality services at reasonable pricing.

Voxya has handled more than 75,000 consumer complaints till now and consumers have claimed damages of around 2200 crores. This shows that when it comes to consumer complaints Voxya leads the game.

The Final Conclusion:

Internet fraud is becoming very common and it’s your duty to be aware and not get scammed by random fraudsters.

Half of the scams can be stopped just by awareness. Keep the 5 tips mentioned above and never get scammed again!