Speculative and conspiratorial information that is shared as part of a larger trend mostly not based on facts or partially based on a news story or a report that is taken out of context and at times manipulated

Fact-check: This recruitment exercise is not from NRA South Sudan

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These scams use harmful and phishing URLs to steal valuable information from people. We tell people to be careful when responding to these social media posts and to check the truth of any claims before acting on them.

Writer: Jibi Moses

On 16th June 2023, a post on Facebook claimed that an application was ongoing for a recruitment exercise by the National Revenue Authority, also known as the NRA in South Sudan, but this is false.

The claim has also been shared with a link in WhatsApp groups and private chats by unsuspecting individuals.

“Application is ongoing… hurry now!” partly reads a post on the little-known Info Data Facebook page. This post attracted over 120 reactions, 46 comments and 18 shares.

Screenshot of the Facebook post by Info Data. 

On clicking the link titled “APPLICATION FORM PORTAL,”  one is directed to a platform which claims to be for NRA, with classified jobs and the number of required applications. 

Screenshot of the first page of the link.

Opening the link on a protected gadget warns you not to continue the connection or risk giving your details. Strong anti-virus and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) play a crucial role in protecting us while online.

The link later on demands one to give his name and phone number to get the job. However, after this stage, one is asked to share with at least 15 individuals or five WhatsApp groups. This process lets the malicious link spread so fast as unsuspecting persons think this is the best option to get the job. Unfortunately, at this stage, people’s details are extracted, or this is where we give out our details to scammers.

Further screening on Virustotal, two security vendors flagged the URL as a phishing link and some others as Malicious links.

A malicious URL is a link created with the purpose of promoting scams, attacks, and frauds. When clicked on, malicious URLs can download ransomware, lead to phishing emails, or cause other cybercrime.

Graphically the link is being hosted in the United States of America.

Scammers don’t relax. This year alone, two different scams about jobs from the National Revenue Authority (NRA) on social media have been investigated by 211 Check, as seen here and here. 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds that the advert claiming to be from National Revenue Authority South Sudan is false. These are scams embedded with Malicious and Phishing links intended to steal people’s helpful information. We advise the public to be cautious when interacting with such social media posts and verify the authenticity of any claims before acting on them.

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 is crucial to fight against misinformation and disinformation in mainstream and alternative media by avoiding becoming a victim of fake news. To prevent the spread of false information, you must refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or unaware of its origin. Disinformation and misinformation can be incredibly dangerous because they can mislead people and cause harm. For instance, false information on health matters can lead to wrong decisions that can put people’s lives at risk. Therefore, it’s vital to fact-check information before sharing it to promote accurate and reliable information. Visit https://211check.org/ for more information on our fact-checking process, or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 if you want to present a claim. Our team will promptly respond to your request because we believe #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: MTN not giving out 10 GB of free data to its old users in South Sudan

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The circulating WhatsApp message claiming that MTN is giving out 10 GB of free data to its old users in South Sudan is fake and being used by scammers.

Writer: Jibi Moses 

An advert making rounds on social media with MTN pictures claiming to give 10 GB of internet bundles to its old users who have at least one year above is false.

“MTN OLD SIM REWARD. Today we decided to reward all our old customers by giving them 10GB of Free Data,” the WhatsApp message reads in part.

The screenshot of the advert was shared in one of the social media groups.

Screenshot of the malicious webpage

The link has been shared widely with forty-two thousand shares, fifty-three thousand comments, and over 210 thousand reactions. This makes it suspicious. 

What truth does this hold? Is MTN giving 10 GB of free data?

211 Check ran a link scan using Virustotal, an online tool that helps internet users detect malicious links. Three security vendors flagged the URL as malicious. Meanwhile, one flagged it as suspicious. 

Screenshots of the virus total scan results.

MTN South Sudan, through its Facebook, also published a disclaimer with the heading FAKE PROMOTION ALERT and warned the public to stay woke. Previously a similar advert made rounds on social media from MTN Uganda, and 211 Check fact-checked it here.

Screenshot of the MTN South Sudan alert.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim as an advert purporting that MTN South Sudan is offering 10 GB of free data to old customers who have used their sim cards for more than a year false. These scams are embedded with malicious and suspicious links to steal people’s helpful information. We advise the public to be cautious when interacting with such social media posts and verify the authenticity of any claims before acting on them.

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 is crucial to fight against misinformation and disinformation in mainstream and alternative media by avoiding becoming a victim of fake news. To prevent the spread of false information, you must refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or unaware of its origin. Disinformation and misinformation can be incredibly dangerous because they can mislead people and cause harm. For instance, false information on health matters can lead to wrong decisions that can put people’s lives at risk. Therefore, it’s vital to fact-check information before sharing it to promote accurate and reliable information. Visit https://211check.org/ for more information on our fact-checking process, or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 if you want to present a claim. Our team will promptly respond to your request because we believe #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Uganda Ministry of Health has not refused to Pay Medical Interns

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The claim that Uganda’s Ministry of Health refused to pay pre-medical interns is false, as the ministry has been battling to deploy and pay more than 1,500 medical interns for their internship after graduating.

Writer: Kei Emmanuel Duku

Over the last year, Uganda’s Ministry of Health has been engaged in a fierce battle of deploying more than 1,500 medical interns for their internship after graduating.  However, others who have been deployed complain about unpaid arrears, salary disparities and poor welfare, while fresh graduates still complain of delayed deployment by the Ministry. 

On May 15, the Uganda Parliament directed the Ministry of Finance to release the money required to facilitate the deployment of medical interns by the Ministry of Health. Still, since then, no action has been taken by the respective ministries, but instead, the Ministry of Finance has threatened to scrape off allowance to medical interns, which proposal was rejected by President Museveni. 

Ideally, the current Cohort of interns should have been deployed on April 3, but since then, no action has been taken.  

Origin of the Claim, “not pay and deploy Interns.”

The claim originated from the earlier communication Dr Atwiine had made during a Zoom meeting, that some parents and students have met them and agreed to shoulder the internship cost as the Ministry of Health awaits funds from the national treasury. However, the pronouncement by Dr Atwiine doesn’t go well with some of the pre-medical interns. 

A document doing the rounds on social media, majorly Twitter, claims that Dr Diana Atwiine, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, said that her Ministry would not pay for medical interns during their internship.

“We are not going to pay for Interns; let those who can afford to carter for their medical internship pick application forms and choose hospitals they would work in…,” reads part of the claim. 

Dr Atwiine was further quoted in the claim that the medical professional is not meant for the children of the poor and had asked the poor children to abandon the profession. https://twitter.com/ainbyoo

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Screenshot of the claim doing the rounds

What have we found out?

Such claims are uncalled for by any leader who holds such a magnitude position in any institution. It is on these bases that the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, in a separate, WhatsApp conversation shared by this publication between the Minister and one of the Medical Intern, Dr Chris denied the claims and assured the particular student of government assurance’s allowing all students to do their internship.

“This is not the position of the government. I don’t believe that she said this. I request you just to remain patient as the internship issue gets sorted. You will all do an internship,” he said in a WhatsApp message seen by 211 Check.

But during her communication on the 06th via Zoom to some medical interns, Dr Atwiine directed those interested students to apply online, hinting that the delay was caused by a lack of finance from the Ministry, as loudly pronounced by her in the video below.  

Both Dr Atwiine and Dr Chris’s statements were backed up by a Press Release issued on the 7th of June by Emmanuel Ainebyoona, Senior Public Relations officer of the Ministry of Health, reechoing the outcome of the Zoom meeting and stated that upon applying and deployment, interns would be paid arrears once money is disbursed from the Ministry of Finance. 

In the letter, he also expressed his displeasure with some students who went rowdy during the meeting. He conned false information regarding the out of the meeting and some individuals at the Ministry of Health. “……. Furthermore, some of the Pre Interns have embarked on Online Campaign distorting information and sharing abusive information on social media against The Ministry of Health,” reads the Press Release. 

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However, Emmanuel noted that the delay in deploying the intern had affected the internship cycles since many students will graduate and compete for the available few internship positions. 

Medical interns are doctors, pharmacists, and nurses who have already graduated from medical school but need a one-year placement in the hospital to get permanent practising licenses from their professional councils. 

Conclusion:

211 Check concludes that the claim of the students was false and contradictory to the outcome of the meeting at which the Permanent Secretary explained what caused the delay in deploying the students and what the next course of action should be for students and parents who can afford to pay for their internships in the respective health facilities where they will be deployed.

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 is crucial to fight against misinformation and disinformation in mainstream and alternative media by avoiding becoming a victim of fake news. To prevent the spread of false information, you must refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or unaware of its origin. Disinformation and misinformation can be incredibly dangerous because they can mislead people and cause harm. For instance, false information on health matters can lead to wrong decisions that can put people’s lives at risk. Therefore, it’s vital to fact-check information before sharing it to promote accurate and reliable information. Visit https://211check.org/ for more information on our fact-checking process, or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 if you want to present a claim. Our team will promptly respond to your request because we believe #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: “Are you from South Sudan?” Job Scams

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These sites are malicious, masquerading as genuine ones, but they steal people’s information. 

Writer: Jibi Moses

If you are a regular Facebook and Messenger user, you must have encountered multiple sponsored Facebook job advertisements on various pages. The pages which run a series of these ads claim there are jobs in the US or Canada for people from South Sudan.

These pages, among others, are; Exact Grant (here, here and here), Jobs Global Center (here) and Study for You (Here).  

The adverts run with different headings, such as “Hiring Caregivers in the USA | jobs as a night carer for the elderly” and “Looking for jobs that are right for you.”

These posts claim that the jobs include housekeeping, elderly caregiving, driving, supermarket attendants, construction and painting. The pages make further claims about how people will be paid per hour, ranging from 25 USD to 50 USD, depending on what one intends to apply for, and every opportunity doesn’t require experience. 

Screenshots of one of the adverts from Exact Grant.

Investigation:

These adverts are everywhere on Facebook and are concentrated on South Sudanese. And many people were commenting, showing interest in applying for these jobs, which raised concern, and 211Check ran an investigation. However, on opening the site, they immediately lead one to  Home-care-jobs-usa-xyz.

This also has several other sponsored adverts, including, among others, Americanmobile.com, TravelNursing.com, and Travel Nursing Jobs. These are legitimate Nurse staffing agencies with enough experience in doing their work according to the detailed information on their websites and the whois details, all located and registered in the United States of America. Here are their whois details respectively. (Here, here, here). These three companies were registered long ago, the earliest in 1997 and the latest in 2001.

However, on scanning the link Home-care-jobs-usa-xyz using Virustotal, 211 Check found that it has a suspicious, as detected by Forcepoint Threatseeker.

As it operates, Forcepoint ThreatSeeker Intelligence: Monitors popular websites to see if they’ve been compromised or hijacked. Follows breaking news, trending topics and viral social media to identify additional content to assess.

A browser hijacker is a malware program that modifies web browser settings without the user’s permission and redirects the user to websites the user had not intended to visit. It is often called a browser redirect virus because it redirects the browser to other, usually malicious, websites.

Cybercriminals create malicious websites to steal data and plant malware such as ransomware. These websites often masquerade as legitimate ones and use phishing emails to lure visitors

Screenshot of the virus total results.

Conclusion 

The adverts running through different platforms claiming to offer jobs to South Sudanese are mainly false; these ads contain malware intentionally created to divert users to websites they don’t intend to use. These sites are malicious, masquerading as genuine ones, but they steal people’s 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 is crucial to fight against misinformation and disinformation in mainstream and alternative media by avoiding becoming a victim of fake news. To prevent the spread of false information, you must refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or unaware of its origin. Disinformation and misinformation can be incredibly dangerous because they can mislead people and cause harm. For instance, false information on health matters can lead to wrong decisions that can put people’s lives at risk. Therefore, it’s vital to fact-check information before sharing it to promote accurate and reliable information. Visit https://211check.org/ for more information on our fact-checking process, or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 if you want to present a claim. Our team will promptly respond to your request because we believe #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Facebook post allegedly from the Ministry of Agriculture is a hoax

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Long-running hoax busted: Facebook page falsely claims South Sudan’s Agriculture Ministry is collaborating with international organisations to boost agricultural production.

Writer: Emmanuel Bida Thomas

A claim made by a Facebook page named “Ministry of Food and Agriculture South Sudan,” which purports that the Ministry of Agriculture, in conjunction with various international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and World Food Program (WFP) are supporting farmers, agribusinesses, and business development enterprises to help improve agricultural production and fight unemployment in South Sudan is a hoax.

Screenshot of the Facebook post

The post directs interested applicants to apply through a shortened URL link https://shorturl.at/gKO59. However, 211 Check can confirm that this claim is false and misleading after conducting thorough research and investigations. 

The Facebook page “Ministry of Food and Agriculture South Sudan” is not an official page of the South Sudanese government. Instead, It is a newly created account previously named “South Sudan Food and Agriculture Foundation.” This raises questions about the claim’s authenticity and authority to make such statements.

Screenshot of the page’s transparency section

The application link in the claim does not lead to the official website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in South Sudan https://mafs.gov.ss/. Instead, it redirects users to a Google-designed document form, which is suspicious and raises concerns about data privacy and security.

Screenshot of the Google Form’s first page

There is no evidence to support the claim that the Ministry of Agriculture in South Sudan is working with the IMF, World Bank, IFAD, and WFP to support farmers, agribusinesses, and business development enterprises. These organizations have not released official statements or information confirming their involvement in such an initiative.

The claim is a long-running hoax that keeps resurfacing on Facebook. It has been doing the rounds for about two years since at least 2021, and 211 Check debunked here and here. All the previous pages have been unpublished, but new ones are created to share the same false information.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds that the claim made by the Facebook page “Ministry of Food and Agriculture South Sudan” is false and misleading. We advise the public to be cautious when interacting with such social media posts and verify the authenticity of any claims before acting on them.

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 is crucial to fight against misinformation and disinformation in mainstream and alternative media by avoiding becoming a victim of fake news. To prevent the spread of false information, you must refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or unaware of its origin. Disinformation and misinformation can be incredibly dangerous because they can mislead people and cause harm. For instance, false information on health matters can lead to wrong decisions that can put people’s lives at risk. Therefore, it’s vital to fact-check information before sharing it to promote accurate and reliable information. Visit https://211check.org/ for more information on our fact-checking process, or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 if you want to present a claim. Our team will promptly respond to your request because we believe #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Digitel South Sudan warns against fake 30GB data reward offer circulating on WhatsApp

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A fraudulent WhatsApp message claiming to offer a free 30GB data reward from Digitel South Sudan is circulating on social media, which has been debunked by the company as misleading and flagged as malicious.

Writer: Jibi Moses

A WhatsApp message claiming to be from Digitel, a telecommunication company, purporting to give out free gigabytes as a reward, is false. The advert, which is hyperlinked, promises the customer free 30 Gigabytes. 

However, this claim has been debunked by Digitel South Sudan via their official Facebook page. They have formally rejected the misleading advertisements circulating through WhatsApp and have started investigating the matter.

“DIGITEL SIM REWARD. Today we have decided to reward all our old customers by giving them a 30GB free data reward,” the false WhatsApp message reads in part.

Screenshot of the scam advert 

Users will be taken through a series of processes by clicking the hyperlink in the message, including providing their phone number and sharing the link with at least five WhatsApp groups or 15 individuals. Unfortunately, any phone number entered qualifies automatically, which is a red flag.

Malicious URLs are links created to promote scams, attacks, and frauds. When clicked on, they can download ransomware, lead to phishing or spear phishing emails, or cause other cybercrime.

Digitel South Sudan, in a statement on their official Facebook page seen by 211 Check, dismissed the claim that it was offering a 30GB reward as fake and was investigating the matter. 

“Digitel formally rejects and has begun investigation on the misleading advertisements circulating via unofficial WhatsApp and Facebook pages”, partly reads the captions.

A screenshot was used on Digitel South Sudan’s Facebook page.

Running the URL through Virustotal, a popular online service that allows users to scan URLs, files, and other content for potential viruses, malware, and other types of malicious content, flagged the link as malicious, website or webpage containing harmful content, such as malware, viruses, or phishing scams.

Screenshot of the VirusTotal scan

Additionally, a whois search returns different results from both URLs, with the malicious one bit.ly registered in 2008 by Libyan Spider Network (int) in New York.

A Whois search reveals that the malicious URL was registered in 2023, while the genuine Digitel South Sudan website, digitelss.com, was registered in 2020 by Techno Bros from Melbourne.

A whois screenshot of the malicious URL link

A Whois screenshot of the Digitel website 

Conclusion:

The viral WhatsApp message promising a 30GB data reward from Digitel South Sudan is false, and the accompanying hyperlink is malicious.

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 is crucial to fight against misinformation and disinformation in mainstream and alternative media by avoiding becoming a victim of fake news. To prevent the spread of false information, you must refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or unaware of its origin. Disinformation and misinformation can be incredibly dangerous because they can mislead people and cause harm. For instance, false information on health matters can lead to wrong decisions that can put people’s lives at risk. Therefore, it’s vital to fact-check information before sharing it to promote accurate and reliable information. Visit https://211check.org/ for more information on our fact-checking process, or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 if you want to present a claim. Our team will promptly respond to your request because we believe #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: No, foam found on leaves or plants is not snake saliva

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Foam found on leaves or plants is not snake saliva but Cuckoo Spit or Froghopper Spit created by larvae of the froghopper insect. Claims that foam on plants is snake saliva are a myth.

Writer: Jibi Moses

A common myth is that foam found on leaves or plants is snake saliva. This claim, popular and believed by many, recently surfaced in a WhatsApp group chat. The member wanted to know whether the foam on trees or plants was snake spit.

However, this claim is not supported by scientific evidence and is false. While it is true that snakes do produce saliva, it does not typically appear in the form of foam and is not commonly found on plants or leaves.

A screenshot of the WhatsApp message

211 Check investigated and found that young Froghoppers caused the foam. Scientific name: Cercopoidea, Order: Hemiptera, Kingdom: Animalia, Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha, Superfamily: Cercopoidea; Leach, 1815.

The foam that can sometimes be found on leaves or plants is known as Cuckoo Spit or Froghopper Spit, and the larvae of the froghopper insect create it. The larvae produce the foam by excreting a liquid waste product which they mix with air by rapidly flicking their bodies back and forth, creating the characteristic foam.

The froghoppers, or the superfamily Cercopoidea. These families are best known for the nymphal stage, which produces a cover of foamed-up plant sap visually resembling saliva; the nymphs are therefore commonly known as spittlebugs, and their foam is popularly known as Cuckoo spit, Frog spit, or snake spit. As these names are commonly associated with the foam,  neither Cuckoo, frogs, nor snakes produce them.

This characteristic spittle production is associated with the unusual trait of xylem feeding. Whereas most insects that feed on sap feed on the nutrient-rich fluid from the phloem, Cercopidae utilise the much more dilute sap flowing upward from the roots via the xylem. The large amount of excess water that must be excreted and the evolution of special breathing tubes allow the young spittlebug nymphs to grow in the relatively protective environment of the spittle. Usually, an animal shouldn’t be able to survive on a diet so low in nutrients. Still, the insects’ digestive system has two symbiotic bacteria that provide them with the essential amino acids.

The foam serves purposes such as hiding the nymph from the view of predators and parasites and insulating against heat and cold, thus providing thermal control and moisture control; without the foam, the insect would quickly dry up. The nymphs pierce plants and suck sap, causing very little damage; much of the filtered fluids go into producing the foam, which has an acrid taste, deterring predators. Further examples of how spittlebugs are seen in the links here, here, here and here  

Are spittlebugs dangerous?

The bugs and their byproducts are not harmful to humans, but consider wearing gardening gloves for this. You can crush the larvae with your fingers or drop them into a bucket of soapy water. Spraying spittlebugs with a garden hose washes the insects and their residue off your plants and can drown the eggs. The damage they cause is not very harmful to plants, but their shelters are a nuisance to get rid of. They can also infest turfgrasses, creating occasional browning. While they feed on plants, they don’t drain enough nutrition from the sap to harm them and pose no risk to humans.

Do snakes produce saliva?

Snakes do produce saliva. Venomous snakes have evolved one pair of salivary glands into poison glands which produce venom. The venom is made by organs that evolved from salivary glands. Ordinary saliva contains enzymes to help digest food as you chew it, and natural selection has favoured snakes that include ever more toxic enzymes in their saliva.

Conclusion:

The claim that the foam found on leaves or plants is snake spit is false; much as it is popularly known by it, the foam is produced by the nymph Cercopidae.  The insects use this foam for protection against too much heat and cold. It also protects them from external attacks. 

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 is crucial to fight against misinformation and disinformation in mainstream and alternative media by avoiding becoming a victim of fake news. To prevent the spread of false information, you must refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or unaware of its origin. Disinformation and misinformation can be incredibly dangerous because they can mislead people and cause harm. For instance, false information on health matters can lead to wrong decisions that can put people’s lives at risk. Therefore, it’s vital to fact-check information before sharing it to promote accurate and reliable information. Visit https://211check.org/ for more information on our fact-checking process, or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 if you want to present a claim. Our team will promptly respond to your request because we believe #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Claims of “smoking” shrines and misattributed image in South Sudan

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Claims that women use shisha to charm men in South Sudan are unproven, as the image accompanying them is an old image from Nigeria.

By 211 Check Desk

Recently, social media has been abuzz with unverified claims suggesting that women and men visit shrines to “smoke” individuals they are having affairs with to make them love them more in Juba, South Sudan. 

As part of this online discussion, an image of a woman smoking shisha is being shared and falsely attributed to Juba, South Sudan, to validate these claims. 

The image was posted on Facebook by a user and also on Twitter. The false claim attempts to validate the unproven belief that some individuals use supernatural means to manipulate their partners into loving them more. This practice has no scientific backing and should be treated with scepticism.

Screenshot of the picture as posted by a Facebook user.

However, through a thorough investigation and reverse image searches, it becomes evident that the image is originally from somewhere other than South Sudan and has been circulating online since at least June 2016.

The results showed that the same picture had been used previously, the earliest in June 2016. It was found that the image was taken in Nigeria and has been used in various contexts unrelated to the claimed practice of visiting shrines to charm individuals and had nothing to do with South Sudan.

Screenshots of the image as shared by the Nairaland Forum

Besides, many more online sites used the picture in Nigeria, and these can be found here 1,  2, 3, 4 and 5. One of the articles was published with this picture by GistMania, an online blog from Nigeria, in 2016, authored by Kacy Lee.

The image gained virality and has chances of believability in South Sudan because of recent unverified news about women smoking shisha to win over the love and loyalty of men. Given the comments on the post shared by the South Sudanese blogs, the citizens believe the picture and the story to be accurate.

The claim that women visit shrines to charm men into loving them more is based on anecdotal accounts and lacks credible evidence or verifiable sources. It is essential to approach such claims critically and examine them based on factual information and reliable research. In this case, using an unrelated image to validate the claim further doubts its authenticity.

The location where the image was initially taken is Nigeria. It is essential to note that the image’s origin has no direct connection to South Sudan or the alleged practices being discussed. Misattributing images or using unrelated visuals to support a claim only spread misinformation and confusion. The claims of women visiting shrines to influence the emotions of individuals they are involved with need more substantiation from reliable sources. Credible evidence and expert testimonies make ascertaining these allegations’ truthfulness easier. It is crucial to approach such claims with scepticism and demand verifiable evidence before accepting them as factual. When examining cultural practices, it is essential to avoid generalisations or stereotyping. Like any other country, South Sudan has diverse cultural traditions and beliefs. Making sweeping statements about the practices of an entire nation or gender group without adequate research can perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that women visit shrines to charm men into loving them more lacks credible evidence. The image circulated to validate these claims is originally from Nigeria, not South Sudan, and has been in circulation since at least June 2016.

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 is crucial to fight against misinformation and disinformation in mainstream and alternative media by avoiding becoming a victim of fake news. To prevent the spread of false information, you must refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or unaware of its origin. Disinformation and misinformation can be incredibly dangerous because they can mislead people and cause harm. For instance, false information on health matters can lead to wrong decisions that can put people’s lives at risk. Therefore, it’s vital to fact-check information before sharing it to promote accurate and reliable information. Visit https://211check.org/ for more information on our fact-checking process, or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 if you want to present a claim. Our team will promptly respond to your request because we believe #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Photo of a driver on a muddy road not from South Sudan

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The picture of a driver posing for a picture on a muddy road is not originally from  South Sudan; the image has been doing the rounds online since at least September 2019.

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

Dalwuot Media, a Facebook page with 41,000 followers claiming to be a media and news company in South Sudan, posted an image on 8 May 2023 with a caption stating that it was a rare picture of a driver enjoying driving on a muddy road in South Sudan. However, this claim is false.

The post could not provide contextual information regarding when or where the photo was originally taken in South Sudan. This lack of information further supports the notion that the picture is not a genuine depiction of the country’s muddy roads.

“A rare picture of a driver poses while enjoying driving in muddy South Sudan road,” the post that has since attracted over 220 reactions, 25 comments and three shares reads.

Screenshot of the post as shared by Dalmout Media

A reverse image search of the picture revealed that it had been used previously on various other platforms, such as blogs, Facebook posts, and tweets by publishers in Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia. Most of these uses were satirical and unrelated to South Sudan, indicating that the picture is not unique to South Sudan.

It was first posted with the Kiswahili caption, ““Maneno ikiisha ukwame katikati ya 70 page #Thesis alafu utoke nje ujiulize mbona uliingia writing,” on September 30, 2019, by Genius Research and Consultant. This page describes itself as a full services business leading in research and training in Kakamega, Kenya.

“When you run out of words, you get stuck in the middle of a 70-page #Thesis, and then you go out and ask yourself why you started writing,” Google translation of the caption.  

The same picture was also used by Facebook Zambia Blog, a Facebook page on November 24, 2019.

This is not the first time Dalwuot Media has shared false information on its platform. In April 2023, the page claimed that Al Fateh tower had been destroyed in the ongoing fighting in Sudan, but this claim was also proven to be false after a fact-check investigation.

Conclusion:

The claim made by Dalwuot Media about the picture of a driver posing for a photo on a muddy road in South Sudan is false. The image is not originally from South Sudan but was randomly collected from the internet to fabricate a story that has not occurred in South Sudan.

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 is crucial to fight against misinformation and disinformation in mainstream and alternative media by avoiding becoming a victim of fake news. To prevent the spread of false information, you must refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or unaware of its origin. Disinformation and misinformation can be incredibly dangerous because they can mislead people and cause harm. For instance, false information on health matters can lead to wrong decisions that can put people’s lives at risk. Therefore, it’s vital to fact-check information before sharing it to promote accurate and reliable information. Visit https://211check.org/ for more information on our fact-checking process, or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 if you want to present a claim. Our team will promptly respond to your request because we believe #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Watch out for this WFP job scam on WhatsApp, don’t be fooled by fake recruitment messages

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The WhatsApp message soliciting job applications for the World Food Programme via a one-page dubious site is false and potentially malicious.

Writer: Jibi Moses

A WhatsApp message claiming to be from the World Food Programme (WFP) and soliciting job applications through an unrelated link is false. The WFP has not issued any such message, nor is there any active recruitment campaign by the organisation.

“Welcome to World Food Programme Application Form Portal. Click on the link below to start your registration. All Nationalities are eligible to Apply,” the false claim reads in part.

A screenshot of the WhatsApp message doing the rounds

Investigation:

Upon investigation, it has been found that the message is false, and the link provided is a dubious site that mimics the official job application portal of the World Food Programme. 

A screenshot of the first page of the unrelated advertisement site

Job seekers are asked to apply via this site and then share the message with five friends or 15 groups on WhatsApp to qualify. However, it is essential to note that the World Food Programme does not solicit job applications this way, and any such message is fraudulent.

A screenshot of the site’s last page requesting applicants to share the link

A scan of the site using VirusTotal, a free online virus scanner, has flagged it as malicious, and it is advised that users do not visit or use the site. Job seekers are advised to apply for vacancies at the World Food Programme through the official website.

Whois record a publicly available database that contains information about domain name registrations search for both websites returns two different results, as seen here and here.

While the domain for the dubious site was registered on 10 March 2023, the authentic wfp.org domain was registered on 06 October 1994.

Domain registration information for the false site

Domain registration information for the wfp.org 

The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of a fake WhatsApp message claiming recruitment claims of scammers. The WFP advises people to be cautious of such scams and report them if they encounter any. 

Conclusion:

The message claiming to be the World Food Programme Application Form Portal and circulating on WhatsApp is false. Job seekers should be cautious of such messages and only apply for vacancies through the official website. 

Be vigilant and cautious while dealing with unsolicited messages, and take appropriate measures to protect yourself from online scams and frauds. It is essential to exercise caution when clicking on links or downloading attachments sent via unsolicited messages, especially if they claim to be from reputable organisations like the World Food Program (WFP). In this case, the message is a scam designed to extort personal information from unsuspecting individuals.

If you receive such messages, verifying their authenticity before action is advisable. One can do so by checking the official website of the organisation or contacting them directly through their official channels.

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 is crucial to fight against misinformation and disinformation in mainstream and alternative media by avoiding becoming a victim of fake news. To prevent the spread of false information, you must refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or unaware of its origin. Disinformation and misinformation can be incredibly dangerous because they can mislead people and cause harm. For instance, false information on health matters can lead to wrong decisions that can put people’s lives at risk. Therefore, it’s vital to fact-check information before sharing it to promote accurate and reliable information. Visit https://211check.org/ for more information on our fact-checking process, or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 if you want to present a claim. Our team will promptly respond to your request because we believe #FactsMatter.