Fact-check: Business grant scam in South Sudan resurfaces on Facebook

In February 2022, 211 Check debunked the same business grant and reported the page to Facebook for removal. However, six days ago, another page was created and is running an ad about the same grant. A media official at the Ministry of Finance and Planning says the Facebook page running the advert is fake. 

By Emmanuel Bida Thomas

A sponsored Facebook post on a page called “Ministry of Finance and Planning, South Sudan” purporting that it is giving out entrepreneurial and agricultural grants of up to three million dollars to small businesses in South Sudan is a hoax.

The advert claims that the grants in an effort to promote investment, agribusiness and economic empowerment is a partnership between USAID and Global Entrepreneurship Network.

“We, therefore, advise entrepreneurs and farmers to take advantage of this great opportunity to apply for the grants by clicking on this link…,” partly reads the hoax published on Monday, 11th April 2022 that has since attracted over 500 interactions, 30 comments and 10 shares.

Screenshot of the hoax

They then direct users to fill in a google form, which requires applicants to provide personal details, such as name, phone number, email address and physical location, as well as the estimated cost of the business project they want to undertake.

Screenshot of the Google Form

When contacted by 211 Check, Maal Maker, a media official at the Ministry of Finance and Planning said the Facebook page running the advert is fake. He says updates from the ministry are shared on the minister’s social media accounts at the moment.

“The grant is a hoax. Currently, we have the minister’s Facebook page and Twitter accounts on his names,” the media official said.

The ‘Page transparency’ section of the false Facebook page reveals that it was created on April 5, 2022, whereas South Sudan’s Ministry of Finance & Planning verified Facebook page was created on March 30, 2020.

We can also find a link to the finance ministry’s genuine Facebook page here.

In February this year, 211 Check debunked a similar post from another imposter Facebook account going by the name “South Sudan’s Ministry of Finance and Planning created on 24th February 2022.

Do not fill out the form and disregard the information. You can also by reporting the post and page to Facebook for removal.

Conclusion:

211 Check has looked into a Facebook post claiming that the Ministry of Finance and Planning, USAID and Global Entrepreneurship Network is giving grants to small and medium scale businesses and finds it to be FALSE

#FactsMatter, Don’t be a victim of fake news; instead, let’s fight misinformation on both mainstream and alternative media. To avoid spreading false information, don’t share content you’re not sure about or don’t know where it came from.

To learn more about our fact-checking process, go to https://211check.org/how-to-fact-check/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim, and our team will immediately fact-check it and respond.

This fact-check has been produced as part of our incubation program under Code for Africa.