WhatsApp has reportedly fixed the glitch that sprung up earlier this week that showed “error:uknown” as contact status. According to reports, the glitch had affected thousands of users worldwide. The bug was followed by a hoax message urging people who use the app to forward a message to all their contacts or face having their accounts deleted.

The viral message is from the CEO of WhatsApp, one 'Jim Balsamic', and reads, "We have had an over usage of user names on whatsapp Messenger. We are requesting all users to forward this message to their entire contact list. "If you do not forward this message," the message continues, "we will take it as your account is invalid and it will be deleted within the next 48 hours. "Please DO NOT ignore this message or whatsapp will no longer recognise your activation," the fake communcation orders, warning, "If you wish to re-activate your account after it has been deleted, a charge of 25.00 will be added to your monthly bill."

WhatsApp has assured its users on circulated messages calling them hoax. The site quotes a Whatsapp blog as saying “We have been getting a lot of emails and questions from you about a chain letter message circulating in our network. Please understand that this is a hoax and there is no truth to it.