Fact-check: Is MTN Uganda Offering 10 GB Free data to its subscribers for 24th Anniversary? No, it is false.

MTN Uganda offers 24 free minutes of MTN to MTN calls to celebrate its 24th anniversary. The link circulating is malicious and doesn’t represent MTN

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

On November 6, 2022, MTN Uganda celebrated 24 years of providing telecommunications services in Uganda. On the same day, a WhatsApp message began circulating with the untrue claim that MTN Uganda would provide 10 GB of free data to commemorate its 24th anniversary.

“MTN UGANDA At 24.  It feels good to be 24. We just want to celebrate with you, our dear customers. We are giving you 10GB free data to chat with everyone that is dear to you. Let’s celebrate our birthday together. Check Links Below to see if you qualify to get Free Data,” that WhatsApp message that has been doing the rounds reads in part.

Screenshot of the widely WhatsApp message

When you click on the links above, you will be taken to a one-page website titled: “We are 24. Happy Birthday to us. You’ve 10GB of Free Data Valid for 1 Month.” It then instructs users to press a “GET YOURS NOW” button, which prompts them to enter their phone number. You are eligible for the data regardless of how many times you click.

The one-page site users are directed to when they click on the links

Screenshot of an alleged verification process after entering phone number  

Screenshot of a prompt on the site asking people to send the information to 12 groups and friends on WhatsApp

But, is MTN Uganda offering 10 GB free data to celebrate its 24th anniversary? No and here is why?

211 Check finds out that MTN Uganda announced on twitter that they were offering 24 free minutes of MTN to MTN calls in celebration of its 24th anniversary.

‘’Thank you Uganda for being our home for 24 years. To celebrate all our loyal customers, we are giving you 24 free MTN to MTN minutes to talk to all your loved ones today. Senkyu for being on MTN,’ it announced on Twitter.

Some complains to MTN Uganda on Twitter:

Charles Amone @CharlesAmone2

‘’This is good, but there is also a link moving around for 10gbs data. And needed to be shared to 12 groups. MTN does not work like that. If it’s to be given to all, why must I share to groups and get it. I will buy data. Thanks for minutes though.’’

Dr. Nzanzu Joshua @NzanzuT

‘’MTN helps fraudsters to fraud Ugandans through a message they put up when a customer calls their helpline. These F.stars have sent a hodgepodge of links and are frauding us left right and center. MD hereby notified. Why not just send them to every active no?’’

MTN Uganda replies to the unverified claim of the free 10 GB data:

‘’Hello, we are sorry about that. Kindly ignore any information not sent through our main channels, from Twitter, Facebook, 0312120000 or Whatsapp 0772123100. Also report suspicious information for action,” MTN Uganda said.

Screenshot of MTN Uganda tweet reply.

The website impersonating the official MTN Uganda website can be found at blogspot.com, a free service provided by Google. The official MTN Uganda website can be found at https://www.mtn.co.ug/.

According to the whois record, the domain name of the malicious website was registered on December 11th, 2021, which is a little under a year ago.

A screenshot showing the Whois information for the fake site

Whois record for https://www.mtn.co.ug/ 

A screenshot showing the Whois information for MTN Uganda

Conclusion:

The claim that MTN is giving away 10 GB worth of free data as part of celebrating its 24 years in Uganda has been proven false by 211 Check. The links going around are not from MTN and are malicious.

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