A businessman allegedly lost a contract worth over ₦20 million after using WhatsApp’s disappearing messages feature, according to a social media user’s story, which sparked an online discussion regarding professionalism and trust in business interactions.

The narrative on X claims that the businessman first presented a proposal to the manager of a company, who was sufficiently impressed to set up a meeting with the director of the company.

According to reports, the director expressed a willingness to approve the idea after receiving positive response.

The user clarified that the director requested some changes and gave his WhatsApp contact information so that an updated quotation could be submitted before giving final permission. According to reports, the document was sent as directed.

But soon after the quotation was given, things supposedly took an unexpected turn. Only minutes after submitting the document, the businessman apparently observed that he could no longer see the director’s WhatsApp display photo.

He reportedly called the manager in charge of the procedure to enquire about the development because he was worried about it.

The X user claims that the manager told the businessman that the director had authorised the company to look for a different contractor for the project and had decided to end talks about the contract.

The post further asserted that the director’s choice was connected to the use of WhatsApp’s disappearing messages function.

The director allegedly refused to move on with the commercial partnership because he saw the setting as a warning sign and a sign of dubious character.