Fact-check: FIFA is NOT offering a free 50 GB data plan for all networks

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A viral WhatsApp message doing the rounds in groups claiming that the Federation of Football Association (FIFA) is offering free 50GB data on all networks to watch the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is false.

The message contains a phishing and malicious link 

Screenshot of a viral WhatsApp message

Investigation:

211 Check investigated the link, which directed to one webpage with poorly presented photos of football players.

“It starts here with early bird offers….save more than 30%. One world one home”, reads the message on a webpage which further directed you to click another button.

The screenshot of the webpage

The page provided the bar to enter a number to check for eligibility to receive and activate the claimed 50GB data plan for three months on the mobile phone.

“Enter your number to check if you are Eligible to Receive and Activate free 50GB data plan valid for three months on your mobile phone now”, it directed.

211 Check entered in a non-existent number on any telecommunication network. Still, the reply was that the number is eligible for the offer, however, with the condition to share with twelve friends or groups on WhatsApp.

“Congratulations! Your Number is Eligible to receive free 50GB Data, Valid for 3 months. To get your free 50GB data, click the green button “WHATSAPP” and share this information with 12 Friends or Groups on WhatsApp. Let us celebrate together. Invite Your loved Ones to benefit also. After sending the message, you will get free 50GB of data on your Mobile within 5 minutes”.

The screenshot of the reply after entering the number

Analysis

The claim contained a fake Unified Resource Locator (URL) unrelated to or associated with FIFA. The Whois information look-up shows that it was registered in May 2022 and expires in May 2023.

The screenshot of the whois look-up of the fake URL

However, the whois look-up of the FIFA website shows that it was registered in August 1995 and expires in August 2023, which is totally different from the claimed URL.

The screenshot of the FIFA website whois look-up

The URL contained in the claim has been detected by the anti-virus Kaspersky as meant for phishing to trick people into providing their passwords and credit card details and has the threat of data loss by device users.

The screenshot of the Kaspersky’s detecting the fake URL link

Besides, 211 Check analysed the URL using virus total and found six security vendors (Avira, Fortinet, Sophos, Forcepoint ThreatSeeker, CyRadar, Kaspersky, and Viettel Threat Intelligence) categorised the URL as malicious and designed for an online phishing attack.

The screenshot of the virus total analysis seen by 211 Check

And on the fake URL claims that the 50 GB data is rewarded through Digital Energy Technologies Ltd’s portal is false.

In conclusion,

The claim is a false and malicious trend to attack people online, and it is not accurate because there is no substantive evidence to prove that the claim is from a legitimate entity. When the URL is clicked and loaded, it downloads malware into devices with weak security features.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.