Fact-check: The South Sudan Youth Empowerment Fund 2024 is a hoax

Legitimate government financial assistance initiatives are typically announced through formal channels such as press releases, national news outlets, or public statements from officials. The Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Sports did not put up such a grant.

Writer: Makur Majeng

A WhatsApp message circulating online claiming that the Government of South Sudan has approved the Youth Empowerment Fund 2024 is a scam.

The message asserts that the government, through the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Sports, has approved a grant of 50,000 SSP to be paid to unemployed youths and individuals affected by the crisis in South Sudan and that payments have already begun. 

The claim provides a link for individuals to apply and requests personal details like name, mobile number, email, date of birth, and gender.

“The Government of South Sudan has approved an empowerment grant fund of 50,000 SSP to be paid to unemployed youths of South Sudan and to compensate citizens affected by the crisis in South Sudan. Payment has already begun. Apply now to be one of the beneficiaries.

Click the link below to apply now.” reads the message being forwarded in the WhatsApp groups.

The screenshot of the WhatsApp message

The screenshot of the web interface

After submitting basic personal information, applicants are asked to share the application portal with WhatsApp groups or contacts before being redirected to the final submission page to select a payment method.

The screenshot of the webpages

Claim Verification:

A Google keyword search using terms like “South Sudan Youth Empowerment Fund 2024” yields no relevant results. No open-source reports or announcements from credible government websites, independent news outlets, or official social media accounts of the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Sports regarding such a fund exist. 

The Ministry of Youth has not publicised any such program on its official platforms or in any event for the public.

Legitimate government programs or financial assistance initiatives are typically announced through formal channels such as government press releases, national news outlets, or public statements from officials.

A Whois domain search of the destination website shows no affiliation with the Government of South Sudan or any recognised institutions. 

Scammers commonly use such unverified links to lead users to phishing sites where personal data can be harvested or used for malicious purposes.

The screenshot of the whois domain search

Analysis

Additionally, a VirusTotal scan of the link shows that the site is potentially dangerous, as it can redirect users to phishing websites.

The request for applicants to share the link with multiple WhatsApp contacts or groups is a classic scam technique. This tactic is used to spread the fraudulent link widely and quickly, making it appear more credible as it circulates. 

Genuine government applications do not require applicants to share links on social media to proceed with their applications. This behaviour is typical of pyramid schemes or phishing scams designed to gather personal information for identity theft or fraud.

Conclusion:

211CHECK found out that the South Sudan Youth Empowerment Fund 2024 is a hoax

There is no verifiable evidence that the Government of South Sudan or the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Sports is running the Youth Empowerment Fund 2024. This message is part of a phishing scam aimed at collecting personal information under pretences.

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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 +211 921 350 435. #FactsMatter.