A Facebook page New Sudan posted an image with the caption, “Juba, South Sudan ♥ ️” is false.
This post, published on 16 July 2023, attracted 1.7K likes, 258 comments, and 57 shares. The page posted this picture.
Does this picture show Juba, South Sudan?
Investigation:
211 Check carried out a Google Reverse Image Search on the picture, and the results showed that the picture had been used by different people referring the picture to Johannesburg, South Africa.
I Love South Africa posted the image with the caption, “Jacaranda trees are here to stay,” says the city of Tshwane, which was posted on 28 October 2022.
211 Check has found out that the image making rounds claiming to be Juba, South Sudan, is false. The picture shows Johannesburg, South Africa.
Juba is the capital of South Sudan, the largest city of South Sudan, and the capital of the central Equatoria state. It’s the world’s newest capital city, while Johannesburg, South Africa, is the biggest city and capital of Gauteng province. It began as a 19th-century gold-mining settlement.
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.
Fighting misinformation and disinformation in the media is crucial to 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 +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Juba-South-Sudan-False.png6281200211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2023-08-17 15:36:092023-08-17 15:36:15Fact-check: Picture misidentified as Juba, South Sudan
No, the incident happened in India and was unrelated to mobile phone use.
Writer: Ochaya Jackson
A message circulating on WhatsApp claiming that some people in Uganda were struck by thunder while taking shelter under a tree because their phones were on is false.
The message, accompanied by a 13-second video, alleges that the supposed casualties were struck dead because their phones were not switched off and warned people to put phones off when it is raining.
“Hi brethren. This is a horrific scene. Thunder struck people dead in Uganda because their phones where not off when they were taking shelter under a tree. Caution, let’s always put our phones off when it is raining (sic),” reads the text.
In the video, four people are seen falling to the ground after a lightning flash while sheltering under a tree as it rains.
According to ‘WildFilmsIndia’, the video shows four men being struck by lightning while taking shelter during rain under a tree in Gurgaon Park, India. It was uploaded in March 2021.
The video was also shared here in December 2021, and the text accompanying it translates to a warning that people should avoid wired phones except in emergencies.
The same video was shared in January 2022 by here, accompanied by text that warned people not to take shelter under the tree and that they should turn off their phones or put them on flight mode.
This site also posted a video with an Arabic text that warned people to stay away from trees and tall metal objects during thunderstorms.
Findings
A keyword search on ‘thunder strike people in Uganda’ on Google returned several media reports regarding lightning strikes that killed people in Uganda but not because their phones were on when raining.
According to a BBC report in August 2020, 10 children were killed by a lightning strike in the Arua district of Uganda while sheltering in a grass-thatch hut.
In 2011, The Christian Science Monitor reported that lightning struck a primary school and killed 20 pupils, and about 100 were injured. No reference was made to mobile phones being the reason for the lightning strike.
It is also important to note that thunder is a sound wave caused by a flash of lightning and it is created when the lightning’s energy passes through the air. Lightning heats the air rapidly with a temperature of about 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (27,760 degrees Celsius) and the rapid expansion and contraction creates the sound wave known as thunder, according to the National Weather Service.
Does a cell phone attract lightning? No
According to AccuWeather, cell phones do not attract lightning. However, using a landline phone during a thunderstorm is dangerous because of its connection to the outside wire as lightning follows the wire to the handset.
Source: Channel Future 2018, credit: Shutterstock
Scientific literature published by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information in 2006, which cited the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report, indicated that mobile phones are not a lightning strike risk.
Conclusion
Media reports about lightning strikes that killed people in Uganda did not cite mobile phones as the reason for attracting lightning when raining.
Additionally, there are no recent reports of such an incident in Uganda, and according to Ugandan Police Force Spokesperson Commissioner Fred Enanga, “We have never registered such an incident of lightning here. Most incidents are football-related, schools, gardening, and the chairs in the video are not common here (sic).”
On the other hand, reports from Indian media, as seen here and here, show that the incident took place in India. It was also said that the men only suffered burn injuries, and there is no mention of mobile phones as the cause.
No publicly available proof exists that lightning strikes people when it rains because of switching mobile phones on or using them. However, using landline phones when raining poses a risk.
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.
Fighting misinformation and disinformation in the media is crucial to 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 +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Uganda-and-Thunder-False.png6281200211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2023-08-17 13:07:052023-08-17 13:07:12Fact-check: Did thunder strike these people in Uganda because of mobile phones?
No, the picture has been altered. The original photo shows President Salva Kiir Mayardit receiving an invitation letter from a representative of the Turkish president.
Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino
A Facebook post with an image of South Sudanese president Salva Kiir holding a piece of paper with the words ‘Illuminati contract’ is false.
The post by ‘Membership Supremacy’ states some benefits of becoming an Illuminati member and is accompanied by four images, including one of Kiir holding the supposed contract.
Screenshot of the post.
Investigation:
A reverse image search of the photo using Google Lens brings up the original photo as featured in an article by the Sudan Tribune published on January 11, 2023. The story’s title reads: “South Sudan’s Kiir invited for a conference in Turkey.’’
The image shows Turkey’s envoy to South Sudan, Erdem Mutaf, presenting the invitation letter to Kiir on behalf of the Turkish president.
The original image clearly does not bear the ‘Illuminati contract’ text and has also been shared here.
Conclusion:
211 Check has found that the picture making rounds on social media purportedly showing the President of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir, receiving an ‘Illuminati contract’ is false. The image shows Turkey’s envoy to South Sudan, Erdem Mutaf, presenting an invitation letter to Kiir on behalf of the Turkish president.
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 lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/PresidentKiir-False.png6281200211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2023-08-16 16:56:232023-08-16 16:56:29Fact-check: Is this a photo of the President of South Sudan holding an Illuminati contract?
No, the video shows Morou Amadou, the former Justice Minister in Niger, and is unrelated to the coup.
Writer: Jibi Moses
A video originally posted on Tiktok and making the rounds on WhatsApp claiming that Niger’s former finance minister was crying after being threatened with death by firing squad for stealing from the state coffers is false.
The video shows a man sobbing and being offered a bottle of water. The WhatsApp message accompanying the video claims that the man, supposedly Niger’s former finance minister, was crying because he was given an ultimatum of 48 hours by the coup plotters to account for all the stolen Nigerien money or else he would be killed by firing squad. The video was shared on July 31, 2023.
A screenshot of the video as shared on the WhatsApp platform
The video was also presented with the same headline on different websites, such as here and here.
Investigation:
211Check traced the TikTok video to Djibo Amadou, who shared the video on July 26, 2023.
A Reverse Image Search, of a screengrab from the video returned many results, some dating back as far as 2021.
Sources that used the video with the same or similar headlines include here, here, and here, among others.
However, the results also brought up the video as shared on December 27, 2021, by a Facebook user. The video was shared with an accompanying text in Hausa, identified with the help of Google Translate. The text’s translation identifies the person in the video as ‘Morou Amadou, the former Niger minister of Justice.’
A screenshot of the text shared by the Facebook user as translated by Google
We also discovered that the video had been shared on Twitter on December 20, 2021, with a caption in Arabic. Using Google Translate, we realised the post described the man in the video as the former Minister of Justice, ‘Maro Amdo’, who was a minister in Niger between 2011 and 2021.
The narrative was that the minister was crying while praising the former presidents of Niger, especially Muhammadu Issoufou, with whom he worked for ten years as Minister of Justice.
The screenshot of the tweet is both in arabic and English
A picture of the former minister of finance, currently the prime minister (AFP).
Niger coup saga
On July 26, 2023, the Presidential Guard in Niger launched a coup and detained President Mohamed Bazoum and his family. Senior officers from various defence and security forces (FDS) branches formed a junta named the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP). They announced the seizure of power In a televised broadcast. The public response varied, with initial demonstrations in support of Bazoum being dispersed by mutinous soldiers and subsequent demonstrations in support of the CNSP. On July 27, the Nigerien Armed Forces joined the CNSP, citing their intent to avoid lethal confrontation and to safeguard the president and his family. (Source🙂
Conclusion
The claim in the video, which has been widely shared, is false and misleading. This video, which is of former Nigerien Minister of Justice Marou Amadou, has been online since December 2021 and is unrelated to the coup.
Similarly, several fact-checking organisations have also debunked the claim, as seen here, here, and here.
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 important 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 +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/NigerMinister-False.png6281200211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2023-08-14 08:32:312023-08-14 08:37:18Fact-check: Former Niger finance minister caught on video crying after allegedly squandering state funds?
RwandAir is not giving transport subsidies to citizens. This claim was made to trick unsuspecting internet users and take their sensitive information.
Writer: Nancy Ceasar
A message was forwarded to many WhatsApp groups and private chats claiming to be Rwanda’s government transport subsidy, giving gifts to their lucky winners with an award of “$1,000,00” after answering some questions.
This is the screenshot of the process shown after answering the questionnaire provided by the link
Then after opening the box, it takes it to another unrelated site, making it suspicious.
The picture on the congratulatory message was used by the Facebook page Rwanda, the heart of Africa, with the caption, “The national carrier, Rwanda, has been named among the most improved airlines in the world. Kigali international airport has also recorded the best-ever passenger traffic #I love Rwanda. Rwanda is a small country with a big dream,” on December 10th 2018.
Investigation:
211 Check carried out an examination of the URL using Virustotal, an online tool used to detect malware and other suspicious software. It detected the URL as being a phishing link. Phishing links are links created to promote scams or fraudulent activities, and by clicking on them, one’s information can be stolen and used for selfish reasons or to misuse information for personal gain.
In addition, a Google Lens search shows that Pulse used the picture live.co.ke with the caption, “Here is how many passengers the top 10 African airlines managed to airlift in 2018.”
A screenshot of when Pulse first used the image
Rwanda Airlines began operating on December 1, 2002, as a new national carrier under the name RwandAir Express [passenger air transportation is the core activity]. Rwanda, with concession, is carrying out airport ground handling ancillary activity at Kigali International Airport.
In March 2009, it was registered with a new trademark, RwandAir, the current operating name. The Rwandan government introduced a 29.3 billion Rwandan franc subsidy to ease the burden on pressed public transport service providers. Information provided by ODA indicates that the government has allocated a subsidy of 29.3 billion Rwandan Francs in the 2021 financial year as a relief payment to hard-pressed public transport operators. Under the now extended covid 19 regulations, Rwandan public transport operators are requested to reduce their load factors to 50% of carrying capacity.
Previously, the same claim had surfaced on the internet and was fact-checked by PesaCheck, as seen in this link.
Conclusion:
211 Check finds that the circular in WhatsApp groups claiming that the government of Rwanda will issue transportation subsidies and every citizen can get them is false. This is a phishing scam where some individuals collect internet users’ details and use them for their interests or sell them to a third party. The general public should be cautious when dealing with information online. Some information is too good to be true, and verification is needed before trusting any link shared on social media.
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.
Fighting misinformation and disinformation in the media is crucial to 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 +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/RwandAir-False.png6281200211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2023-08-11 14:07:432023-08-13 14:09:55Fact-check: RwandAir isn’t offering government transport subsidies
The picture has been on the internet since 2020. It is of a Ghanaian man posing with his two wives.
Writer: Rajab Mayol
A photo of a man with two ladies was shared on Facebook, allegedly a South Sudanese man named ‘Solomon Wani’ with two wives is false.
“Congratulations to Solomon Wani for becoming the first Junubi Man to marry Two wives in 2 days. Speaking to Top in South Sudan, Solomon said he plans to Marry at least 12 wives before Christmas,” said Top in South Sudan in their post.
This is the screenshot of the post shared by Top in South Sudan on Facebook
Investigation
A Google reverse image search using google lens on the picture showed that the picture in the post had been uploaded to Facebook since August 2020 and by multiple Facebook pages. In the photo, a Ghanaian man poses with his two wives.
Conclusion
211 Check has found the claim that a photo allegedly showing a man “Solomon Wani” with two wives from South Sudan is false.
The photo is of a Ghanaian man posing with his two wives and has been on the internet since at least August 2020.
This fact check has been published by 211 Check as part of an assignment submission for the Empowering Fact-checking in South Sudan (EFiSS) Training.
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 +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TopinSouthSudan-False.png6281200211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2023-08-10 12:51:362023-08-13 12:55:18Fact-check: This picture isn’t of a South Sudanese man with his two wives
No, the men in the photos are Omar Zain al-Abdin, former Head of the Sudanese military council’s political committee in uniform, and Lomoni Lewan whose photo was taken in the Turkana region of Kenya.
Writer: Ochaya Jackson
A tweet with images claiming to show Sudanese military general Colonel Ibrahim Shemseddin in a malnourished state in detention is false.
One of the images is supposedly of the general in military attire, and two others are of him in detention by former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s regime.
“Politics and its cruelty: “The person you see in the picture below is called Colonel Ibrahim Shemsedin. The man was Sudan’s most powerful Security Chief, locked up in underground detention by President al-Bashir’s regime”, reads the August 2, 2023 tweet.
Screenshot of the tweet
The claim depicts a political turnaround and portrays that the military Colonel was once powerful but ended up in prison under former Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir.
Investigation
However, a Google reverse image search established that the photos presented in the claim are of two different individuals.
The man in the military attire is Omar Zain al-Abdin, former Head of the Sudanese military council’s political committee. The photo was taken while he was addressing a pressconference in 2019 after the overthrow of President al- Bashir from power.
On the other hand, the elderly, malnourished man is Lomoni Lewan. His photo was taken in the Turkana region of Kenya by BBC correspondent Ronclife Odit, who tweeted about it the same year, according to the France 24 website.
Lewan’s photo has also been used in the past claiming to show a political prisoner detained in an underground tunnel since 1995 in the Sudanese city of Omduman. However, it was fact-checked by AFP and found to be false.
According to United Press International’s (UPI) article, Col. Ibrahim Shamseddine, Sudan’s former deputy minister of defence, died in a plane crash in 2001 alongside other senior military officers during an inspection visit to Malakal.
Real photos of Colonel Ibrahim Shamssedine, source: France 24
Conclusion:
The photos in the claim are not of Col. Ibrahim Shamseddine. The men in the photos are Omar Zain al-Abdin, former Head of the Sudanese military council’s political committee in uniform, and Lomoni Lewan whose photo was taken in the Turkana region of Kenya.
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 important 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 +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SudanTweet-False.png6281200211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2023-08-09 19:42:332023-08-09 19:42:39Fact-check: Are these photos of Sudanese military general Col. Ibrahim Shemseddin?
The website is fake since WhatsApp’s 10th anniversary was celebrated in 2019
Writer: PesaCheck
This website submitted for fact-checking via PesaCheck’s WhatsApp Tipline, supposedly offering WhatsApp users 50GB of data as part of the company’s 10th anniversary, is a HOAX.
To get the purported data, participants are required to provide their phone numbers and share the link with 12 friends or in WhatsApp groups.
The website has several red flags, among them a suspicious URL, a request for personal details (phone number), and the requirement for users to share the link before receiving data. The red flags prompted us to investigate the website.
Despite PesaCheck following all the steps outlined in the alleged promotion, we did not receive the promised free data. In the final stage, the verification tab was unresponsive and repeatedly redirected us to unrelated web pages.
Additionally, we performed a Whois search and established that the website was registered on 29 January 2023, while the authentic WhatsApp website, Whatsapp.com, was registered in September 2008.
Legitimate sites are usually older than hoax sites. Bogus sites also tend to have concealed registrant details.
From left to right: a WHOIS search for the imposter vs that of the legitimate WhatsApp site.
The website claims that the free data is in celebration of WhatsApp’s 10th anniversary. However, the instant messaging application was founded in 2009 and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2019.
On WhatsApp’s verified Twitter account and Facebook page, there’s no information on any such promotion.
PesaCheck examined a website submitted for fact-checking via PesaCheck’s WhatsApp Tipline, supposedly offering WhatsApp users 50GB of data as part of the company’s 10th anniversary celebration and found it to be a HOAX.
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 important 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 +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ALTERED-This-image-purportedly-of-Bill-Gates-under-armed-watch.png342679211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2023-08-08 19:58:092023-08-09 20:05:06HOAX: This website offering free 50GB data to celebrate WhatsApp’s 10th anniversary is a scam
The photo is from an old #DeathPenaltyFail campaign video.
Writer: PesaCheck
This image on a Facebook post purportedly of Bill Gates under armed watch by US Federal marshals at Guantanamo Bay is ALTERED.
The billionaire is strapped to a gurney, according to a claim attributed to TheWashington Post.
The post reads: “Bill Gates Arrested by US Federal Marshals; Being Held Under Armed Watch at Guantanamo Bay; Charged With War Crimes Against Humanity. Washington Post.”
A keyword search on The Washington Post’s website shows the media house did not publish such an article on Gates. There is also no information on the alleged arrest from a credible source.
A reverse image search on TinEye established that the image is old and is not of Gates as claimed.
The original image is from a YouTube video available on World News Network (WN.com) dated 16 April 2019 with the title, “#DeathPenaltyFail A Lethal Injection”.
The video description reads: “This video contains images that some viewers may find offensive. A painstaking reconstruction of a real-time execution by lethal injection that highlights some of the very specific issues relating to the USA’s preferred execution method. Using CCTV footage, authentic set design and a script based on real life events, the reality of a lethal injection is heightened to uncomfortable levels.*”
The video is part of the #DeathPenaltyFail campaign pushing for the repeal of the death penalty in the US. It appears on the campaign’s website and was first uploaded on 25 August 2016 on their YouTube channel.
A closer look at the image in the claim alongside the original one shows similarities that indicate Gate’s face was photoshopped into the latter, and a blue filter was added to the image in the claim to make it look different from the original.
From left to right: Image in the claim versus original image
PesaCheck has looked into a Facebook post with an image purportedly of Bill Gates held under armed watch by US Federal marshals at Guantanamo Bay and finds it to be ALTERED.
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 important 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 +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ALTERED-This-image-purportedly-of-Bill-Gates-under-armed-watch.png342679211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2023-08-07 20:07:022023-08-09 20:13:00ALTERED: This image purportedly of Bill Gates under armed watch by US Federal marshals is manipulated
A widely circulated WhatsApp message claiming that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is running a poverty alleviation programme of up to KSh 107,736 thousand is a hoax.
Screenshot of the forwarded message.
On clicking the forwarded link, the site claims that the UN refugee agency has a government poverty alleviation subsidy and users are directed to a questionnaire that asks whether one knows UNHCR, the person’s age, one’s opinion about UNHCR, and the person’s gender.
The screenshot of the questionnaire
After answering the four questions, it directs one to randomly choose one of the six boxes to win the prize.
The screenshots of the claim web pages
After that, it states that one needs to share with five groups or 20 friends on WhatsApp in order to inform them about the promotion, and it requires an address to complete the registration before the gift is to be delivered within 5-7 days.
211 Check Investigation
A keyword search using “UNHCR government poverty alleviation subsidy” returned no such programme or subsidy.
The search result on Google also returned that the same claim was widely shared among WhatsApp users in Uganda in July 2023, which PesaCheck debunked as a hoax.
On further investigation, we found that the site’s Uniform Resource Locator (URL) link in the claim is flagged as dangerous and suspicious by Web Paranoid, a cyber security tool for checking the authenticity of the website. It also established that there is no link from the claim’s URL to any social media account or page, and the website was created less than half a year ago.
A Virustotal analysis of the claim’s URL also categorised it as malicious, malware, suspicious, and phishing.
The advert’s url also uses an outdated protocol which is not secured and supported on some devices.
A Whois domain search of the site’s URL shows that the domain name, which is different from the UNHCR’s domain, was registered in March 2023 and expires next year in March 2024.
The screenshot shot of the claim link’s domain data
Meanwhile, the WHOIS information on the UNHCR’s global website shows that its domain was registered in May 1997, and expires in May 2024.
The screenshot of the UNHCR WhoIs data
The website domain name fortunecash.click is also not consistent with the URLs of official organisations or institutions which usually have ‘.org’ in their URLS as is the case with the authentic UNHCR website.
It is clear that the domain does not match that of the legitimate UNHCR website, and there is no advertisement of such kind on its website including socialmedia accounts.
Conclusion:
The site appears to have impersonated UNHCR’s poverty alleviation coalition program that seeks to empower refugees and host communities around the world to overcome poverty.
However, the claim that UNHCR is running a government poverty alleviation subsidy is a hoax designed as a phishing scam to lure people to provide their personal information.
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 important 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 +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/UNHCR-is-not-running-this.png6281200211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2023-08-04 15:37:222023-08-04 15:37:29Fact-check: Is UNHCR running this poverty alleviation programme?
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