Fact-check: Military job offers in the USA for South Sudanese civilians are a Facebook hoax

The sponsored Facebook post redirects to an unrelated website that doesn’t belong to the United States of America government (.gov). 

Writer: Makur Majeng

A recent sponsored post making the rounds on Facebook claiming to offer military jobs in the USA specifically targeted at individuals from South Sudan is a hoax.

“Are you from South Sudan? Military Jobs in the USA for Civilians! Good Salary! Sponsorship is possible! Great Conditions for Foreigners! Find Offers!” reads part of the sponsored Facebook post on February 2, 2024. 

The post promises good salaries, sponsorship opportunities, and great conditions for foreigners. 

Upon clicking the sponsored Facebook post link, users are redirected to an unrelated website that shows relevant searches.

The screenshot of the sponsored post on Facebook

Claim Verification:

211 Check conducted a Keyword Search with the phrase “Are you from South Sudan? Military Jobs in the USA for Civilians” and found no evidence of an employment program or subsidy supporting such a claim. 

The Facebook page “Good Job”, which runs sponsored posts about the jobs, has a profile description “delicious bananas”, yet it categorises itself as “Jobs and Occupations”, created on July 6, 2023, with the name “Delicious bananas” before it was changed to “Good Job” on November 27, 2023, according to Facebook transparency section.

A thorough examination of the U.S. Department of Defense website yielded no information regarding a program offering military jobs in the USA for civilians from South Sudan.

The official sources for information on available military roles in the US government are the Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employment and USAJOBS.

Furthermore, a WHOIS domain search revealed that the associated website was registered on January 4, 2024, and is set to expire on January 4, 2025. This information raises questions about the credibility and legitimacy of the website and the claims it promotes.

A screenshot of the Whois domain search of the website

ArcSight Threat Intelligence flagged the web link as suspicious with low harm in a Virustotal analysis, but no security vendor flagged it as malicious.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the recent sponsored post on Facebook claiming that military jobs in the USA for South Sudanese civilians, along with the post’s promise of a good salary, sponsorship, and great conditions, are a hoax. 

The sponsored Facebook post redirects to an unrelated website that doesn’t belong to the United States of America government (.gov).

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-Check for a Pay’ Initiative with support from the International Fact-Checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 921 350 435. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: This sponsored Facebook post offering free study in Germany is a hoax

A recent sponsored Facebook post claiming to offer free study in Germany with no need to learn German and potential transportation and accommodation is not announced by a legitimate source. 

Writer: Makur Majeng

A sponsored post on Facebook claiming to offer free study in Germany with no need to learn German and potential transportation and accommodation is a hoax.

“Unlock the pathway to your educational goals with our expert assistance. Let’s make it happen!” reads part of the sponsored Facebook post.

The sponsored post targets an audience specifically in South Sudan aged 18-45, enticing them to pursue their educational goals with the promise of expert assistance. 

Upon clicking the sponsored Facebook post link, users are redirected to a website that shows relevant searches.

The screenshot of the sponsored post on Facebook

Claim Verification:

211 Check conducted a Keyword Search for ‘Are you 18-45 from South Sudan? You can study in Germany without a Visa and learn German’ and found no evidence to support the claim of free study in Germany without needing to learn German.

A WHOIS domain search shows that the website associated with the ad was recently registered on 24 January 2024 and is set to expire on 24 January 2025. This short time frame for the website’s existence indicates a potential scam, casting doubt on its legitimacy.

The screenshot of the Whois domain search of the website

The Google Chrome browser flagged the website in the sponsored post as unsecured, which cast further doubt on the resources behind the offer and the ad’s intention.

Upon further investigation, it was found that the official website for the Germany Scholarship offers opportunities for international students to study in Germany. The scholarship provides financial support to high-achieving students, but it does not offer completely free study.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds a recent sponsored post on Facebook claiming to offer free study in Germany with no need to learn German, along with potential transportation and accommodation, a hoax

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-Check for a Pay’ Initiative with support from the International Fact-Checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 921 350 435. #FactsMatter