Tag Archive for: #FactCheck

Fact-check: WhatsApp message advertising UN AID funds for South Sudan is a hoax

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The viral WhatsApp message containing an application for UN AID Funds to South Sudanese is a scam.

Writer: Abraham Athian 

A WhatsApp message being forwarded to several users and groups with a title that reads, “UN AID FUNDS FOR SOUTH SUDAN” is a hoax.

“The online application for UN AID FUNDS is now available, and the government is urging all the citizens to apply now to receive this aid funds. Payment of funds has just started,” the claim reads in part.

“Application is free for all applicants and is open to all citizens, whether rich or poor,” the message adds. 

Screenshot of the WhatsApp message doing rounds

A link is provided in the WhatsApp message for unsuspecting users to click on. The provided link refers you to a web page where you will see the South Sudan Coat of Arms and the United Nations logo with South Sudan maps in the background. 

Besides, you will also see the alleged number of applicants who are said to have received the claimed aid highlighted in green colour. There are about 9,634 beneficiaries. 

Screenshot of the web claim

In addition, some static comments with unclickable profiles are fake and misleading. 

A screenshot of the fake comments on the web page

While proceeding,  a user is asked for their name and whether the user is a South Sudanese. After submission, the user will see the congratulatory message and eligibility to receive the aid after submitting the details. 

With their tricky plans, conditional steps are given to receive the alleged funds. That is by sharing it with five groups and 15 friends on WhatsApp. “This is what made it go viral.” 

A screenshot of the tricky claim

Claim Verification 

A Google Word Search for “UN aid funds for South Sudan” yields no results. 

WEB Paranoid Results show that the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) link is a scam and a low-trusted website that is suspicious and unsafe for users.

WEB PARANOID RESULTS (Analysis, Review, and Complaints):

Web Analysis 

Web Review 

Web Technical Analysis 

A screenshot of Web Paranoid results 

A further search by Virus Total detected Bitdefender, Fortinet and G-Data as Malware. Avira, Kaspersky and CyRadar Phishing and Malicious, respectively.

A screenshot of Virus Total results 

The overall summary of Virus Total results. Six security vendors flagged this URL  https://un.aid.fund.officialreg.site as malicious. 

A screenshot of the Virus Total results summary 

In comparison, the Whois search shows that the given Link is not the legitimate United Nations URL.

GoDaddy, LLC registered and updated the fake domain on September 22, 2023, in Arizona State, United States. It will expire on September 22, 2024. In most cases, newly registered websites are not trustworthy.

 A screenshot of the fake domain Whois Information

On the other hand, Network Solutions, LLC registered the legitimate United Nations domain on January 31, 1995, in New York State, US. It was updated on January 15, 2018, and will expire on February 1, 2024.

A screenshot of the official UN domain Whois Information

The provided URL https://un.aid.fund.officialreg.site doesn’t match the official United Nations URL https://www.un.org/en/. Making it a fake and illegal domain devised to scam internet users. 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that the United Nations is running Aid funds for South Sudanese, a hoax devised as a phishing scam to deceive unsuspecting internet users into providing their details. 

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

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

Fact-check: Is Bill Gates planning to eliminate three billion people?

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There’s no evidence that Bill Gates made such a statement. 

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A video circulating on WhatsApp claiming that, according to Bill Gates, three billion people should be eliminated is false and misleading. The video claim is accompanied by a statement that urges people to share it on every platform so that they (Africans) can protect themselves and their families.

“Let’s continue sharing this video [on] every platform for the well-being of the Africans. Watch this video now or watch it again and figure out how to protect yourself and your families in the medications that you take or the packaged food that you consume because you’re too busy to pay attention,” read the text accompanying the video claim.

In the two-minute video, a man identified as Doctor Robert O. Young, who appeared on a panel for the International Tribunal for Natural Justice, attributed to Bill Gates the statement that at least three billion people need to die. Young goes on to say that they ‘will start off in Africa’ on the pretext that they are deplorable and worthless, which the viral WhatsApp message focuses on. 

“For the purpose of sterilisation and population control, there’s too many people on the planet we need to get rid of. In the words of Bill Gates, at least three billion people need to die. So we will just start off in Africa. We will start doing our research there and will eliminate most of the Africans because they are deplorable, they are worthless. They are not part of this world economies. Their rights are taken away and suppressed and experimented on (sic),” Young said during the panel described as testimonies from experts.’

Screenshot of the video claim 

Claim Verification:

A Google reverse image search of the video screenshot returned various sources that debunked the claim in the video as false, such as here and here.

A keyword search for “Bill Gates plan to reduce population in Africa” on Google also returned other sources that flagged the claim as false such as here.

However, the search returned an interview Bill Gates did with the Financial Times, in 2018 where he talked about population growth and poverty reduction in Africa. Gates spoke about Africa’s population growth, which would see the number of people in extreme poverty go up if investment in human capital and improvement in healthcare services are not done to reduce it. He did not say the three billion people needed to be eliminated.

Further, according to media reports, in 2010 at a TED Talk conference dubbed “Innovating to Zero” Bill Gates presented his vision for the global energy future. He talked about the growth of the global population and the need to lower it through investment in health. He is not quoted as having made the statement under our investigation. 

“Now, if we do a really great job on new vaccines, health care, reproductive health services, we could lower that by, perhaps, 10 or 15 percent. But there, we see an increase of about 1.3,” reads an excerpt from Bill Gates’ speech as transcribed from minute 4:17.

Who is Doctor Robert O. Young?

211 Check made several queries about Young on Google, which show that he is seemingly a naturopathic practitioner who was convicted of practising medicine without a licence in 2018 and was ordered to pay $105 million to a woman diagnosed with cancer which he falsely promised to cure. This is one among criminal charges as per media reports.

In 2020, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also warned Young to stop advertising unsubstantiated or scientifically unproven products he claimed for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Conclusion:

The claim that Bill Gates’ plan to eliminate the three billion people is not true and there is no evidence that he made such a statement. 

On the other hand, Young’s credibility as a medical expert is in question having been accused of practising medicine without a licence.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

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.

Fact-check: Has a new HIV/AIDS variant that causes facial rashes been discovered in Africa?

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No, there are no reports from WHO about a new HIV variant discovered in Africa.

Writer: Abraham Athian 

A picture in a Post shared by Tikambeko News claims, “A new HIV variant has been discovered in Africa, and if you have any of these symptoms, you may be having it,” but this is false.

This is the  URL to the false article. 

It is a form of health misinformation that scares the public on social media and those who have acne on their faces. The attached picture in the post is of a person with acne, not a new HIV variant, as claimed by the imposter. The picture has been online since 2014.

A screenshot of the Facebook post 

The post attracted 160 likes, 83 comments, and 23 shares. Many media outlets also posted it, as you can see here, here, here, here, and here.

Claim Verification:

A Google search engine shows that the picture first appeared online on June 12, 2014. It was shared by WordPress that Forever Living products (Aloe Vera Gelly and Aloe Propolis Creme) are used to treat acne.

A screenshot of a WordPress post 

The other sources where you can find the origin of the picture are here, here, here, here, and here.

Further search for the source of this picture and the claim lands us on the previous fact-check made by Edmo Belux, a fact-checking agency in Belgium and Luxembourg. This verified the false claim made by Julius Malema Speak in South Africa about the new HIV variant. It concluded it was false by providing some evidence attached below. 

A screenshot of the factual report about the new HIV variant 

A screenshot of the refuted claim 

A screenshot of the verified information

You can also read the full Edmo’s fact-check article written by Tendai Dube here. 

The Latest Research on HIV and other infectious diseases continued to be presented at the 2023 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). Dr Dieffenbach, the Director of the Division of AIDS at NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, highlighted three NIH-supported studies that focused on the effectiveness of long-acting HIV prevention in specific populations and a demonstration of how long-acting HIV treatment can be used to reach people with multiple challenges to treatment adherence. First, he discussed a study presented by Dr. Hyman Scott of the San Francisco Department of Public Health that demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among black men who have sex with men and transgender women who have sex with men, concluding that CAB-LA can be a powerful HIV prevention tool to reduce HIV incidence among these groups that are disproportionately affected by HIV.

 What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when the opening on the skin’s surface becomes clogged. Acne causes inflamed growths, which may have whiteheads or blackheads. Causes of acne can include hormonal imbalance, oversecretion of oil glands in the skin, and dirt/impurities clogging the skin pores.

Treatment:

The use of Aloe Vera Gelly and Aloe Propolis Creme can minimise the implications. This skin treatment formula has been used and validated over and over satisfactorily, with over 90% of use resulting in total transformation of troubled areas. It works on all types of acne: Blackheads, Whiteheads, Cysts, Acne Vulgaris, Conglobata, and rosacea. 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that there is a new HIV/AIDS variant to be false. It is health misinformation and disinformation. The picture allegedly of a person infected with the new variant was first used in an advertisement for acne-treating medicines in 2014.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

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

Fact-check: This photo is not of NCP defector Anthony Feremato

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The featured image used by the Number One Citizen Newspaper is of Fermo Peter Isara, former Torit County Commissioner

Writer: Theophilous Ochang Andrew  

A featured news article image by the Number One Citizen Daily Newspaper allegedly of Anthony Feremato Jacob is false.

The photo used in a story titled “Senior NCP member joins SPLM”, published on September 4, 2023, was meant to depict Anthony Feremato, a former chairperson of the National Congress Party in Eastern Equatoria State (EES) who is said to have switched to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement as reported by The City Review, The Radio Community, and the Number One Citizen Daily Newspaper.

A screenshot of the featured image as it appears on the Number One Citizen Newspaper website

Claim Verification:

A Google reverse image search returns results of the same image published by Radio Tamazuj on 9 August 2018. It is of Fermo Peter Isara, former Torit County Commissioner in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State.

Screenshot of the featured image as used by Radio Tamazuj on 9 August 2018

A keyword search using “fermo peter isara, torit county commissioner” also returned the same and similar images confirming the Google reverse image search findings.

Similar images of Fermo Peter Isara

The Radio Community, an independent network of community radio stations in South Sudan, published the same story titled, “Anthony Feremato joins SPLM,” with his actual photo.

A screenshot showing Anthony Feremato’s photo as published by The Radio Community

Similar pictures of Anthony Feremato were shared with 211 Check via messenger by Sisto Ohide who works at the Torit SPLM secretariat as the reporter for the state-run  Radio 97.5 FM.

Photos of Anthony Feremato, former National Congress Party chairperson in EES

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the featured image of a news story allegedly of Anthony Feremato, former National Congress Party chairperson in Eastern Equatoria State, false. The featured image used by the Number One Citizen Daily Newspaper is of Fermo Peter Isara, former Torit County Commissioner.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

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

Fact-check: This video doesn’t show an African child being urinated on by a French in 2023

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The video is an old clip of artist Regina José Galindo demonstrating women’s suffering and violence. It was filmed in Brazil in 2013.

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A video clip widely shared on WhatsApp groups with the claim that a Malian citizen was arrested in a French village and humiliated by members of the public taking turns urinating on him in front of a crowd while stripped naked is false and misleading.

The text accompanying the video accused France of human rights violations and claimed that the incident happened after France’s Ambassador was expelled from Mali.

In the video, a black person lies on the ground in front of the crowd while some people take turns urinating on them.

“Let’s make this viral until the people responsible for this human rights abuse are arrested and prosecuted. This is the filth of France, the ugliest scandal of the twenty-first century. In the inhuman and shocking scene of two men and a woman urinating on an African child in one of the French villages, the child, completely stripped of clothes, lies face down on the ground, while the number of French men and women whose country have always shocked the world with the sophistication of their civilisation are watching this obscene, dirty, and abnormal act, without any sign of intervention from any of them,” reads the text accompanying the video clip.

“This was after the state of Mali expelled the French ambassador. The French arrested one of the Malians in a French village and urinated on him publicly. Africa must wake up to see the true, ugly face of France. We regret the ugliness and horror of the scene, but where are the human rights advocates in this? It is unfortunate that globally, Black Africans are associated,” it added.

The screenshot of the WhatsApp video and the accompanying text claim

The claim did not mention the location of the French village or where and when the video was taken.

However, according to a media report, France’s Ambassador to Mali, Joel Meyer, was expelled in January 2022 after the Malian military government issued a 72-hour ultimatum for him to leave the West African country.

Claim Verification:

A reverse image search on Yandex returned that the video was used on other online platforms, including a Russian website,  Pnovosti,  which published an article about the video in 2020. According to the article, a Latin American woman covered herself with coal dust and asked people passing by to urinate on her to demonstrate a woman suffering violence. 

The same claim was posted here and here.

211 Check traced the video’s origin on Yandex’s reverse image search results and found that the person in the video being urinated on is an artist called Regina Jose Galindo. The artist was filmed in 2013 during a performance in Brazil’s city of Sao Paulo to show the humiliation and exploitation women face, according to the description by an Arabic YouTube channel that posted the video in February 2022. 

A review of the video’s description reveals the link to Galindo’s website, where a picture of the artist lying on the ground was published under Works 2013. It was featured with a poetry piece dubbed Stone that states that two volunteers and someone from the audience would urinate on her ‘stone body.’

Galindo covered herself with coal dust to appear black during her performance when being filmed. There is no reference to the humiliation of a black African or a Malian citizen by the French.

Galindo’s 2013 project has also been featured here and here. 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds a video with a claim that a Malian citizen was arrested in a French village and urinated on false. The video is an old clip of artist Regina José Galindo, filmed in Brazil in 2013 while demonstrating women’s suffering and violence.  

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

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.

Fact-check: Does eating food heated in plastic containers cause cancer?

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No, there is no sufficient evidence that eating food from plastic containers exposed to heat can cause cancer.

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

An image circulating on WhatsApp claims that, according to the American Doctors Association, consuming food from plastic materials exposed to heat can cause cancer.

The message states that you should not take tea in plastic cups, eat anything hot in a plastic bag, or heat foodstuff in a microwave using plastic materials. It cautions 

that ‘when plastic gets into contact with heat, it produces chemicals which may cause 52 types of cancer.’

The message ends with a call to action: “Therefore, this SMS is better than 100 useless SMS. Inform your loved ones to be free from such effects. Share with everyone.”

Screenshot from the WhatsApp image

The same claim was also shared on a website called America’s Best Pictures and Videos, which adds that plastic materials can cause cancer cells to grow in the body.

Screenshot from the website.

Verification of the American Doctors Association page and website

According to a  Google Search, there is seemingly no organisation by that name, which suggests it does not exist. Instead, existing organisations include the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons and the American Medical Association. 

According to  Cancer Research UK, an independent cancer organisation in the United Kingdom, drinking hot tea in plastic cups cannot cause cancer. Additionally, using plastic does not increase the risk of cancer, and it is safe to drink from plastic bottles, use plastic containers, cling film, and store food in plastic bags.

Cancer Research UK also added that even when plastics are heated for hours, studies have shown that the food inside remains safe.

Other studies, here and here, indicate that drinking hot tea can increase cancer risk. However, the studies do not mention the increased risk of consuming tea from plastic cups. 

Plastic materials are everywhere in our homes, such as plates, baby feeding bottles, cutlery, food containers, fibreglass, water coolers, etc.

According to Doctor Ashwini Kumar Setya, a senior consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Gastroenterology Institute of Digestive and Hepatobiliary Science, Gurugram- India, when hot food is kept in plastic material, it can produce a chemical which is not scientifically proven to cause cancer.

“…And some of these chemicals, like Bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates, might do strange things to your body, mimicking and disrupting hormones in ways that even scientists haven’t fully understood,” Dr Ashwini K. Setya said

In an interview with 211 Check,  Dr. Catherine Naliaka Nyongesa, a physician radiation oncologist and CEO of Texas Cancer Centre, Nairobi, explained that no substantial literature supports the claim.

She disclosed that: “I think more research is needed to provide evidence to support such claims.’’ 

According to the FDA, there are plastics labelled for microwave use only that are safe to use. The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) has also advised that people can use glass, ceramic, plastic containers and plastic wrap labelled for microwave use. 

Further instructions include:

  • Always follow the label’s instructions when using microwave-safe containers to heat food.
  • Never heat or store food in plastic containers not intended for food. Single-use containers, like margarine tubs, tend to warp or melt in the microwave. This may allow more of the substances in the plastic to leach into the food.
  • Let food cool before adding it to a plastic container, then put it in the fridge immediately. Avoid plastics that are visibly damaged, stained, or have a bad smell.

Conclusion:

According to investigations by 211 Check, scientific evidence suggests that certain chemicals can be leached into food from plastic materials. However, the amounts and potential health risks of these chemicals remain unconfirmed.

Hence, it is vital to choose plastic bags or materials specifically designed for food and labelled as safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use them. 

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance(AFCA).

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.

Fact-check: Is this South Sudan’s Symbol of Justice?

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No, this is one of the statues of the Symbol of Justice found in Nigeria. 

Writer: Nancy Ceasar

A Facebook post by Insight Juba with an image supposedly of South Sudan’s Symbol of Justice is false. The image of a statue supported by a stick was shared with the caption, “South Sudan’s statue[ symbol] of justice is tired already.” 

The post had attracted 182 likes, eight comments, and three shares at publication.

A screenshot of the post as published by Insight Juba.

Claim Verification:

211 Check carried out a reverse image search using Google Lens and found instances where the image had been shared in the past. 

In one instance, the image had been posted on X (formerly Twitter) on July 30, 2017. The post reads, “Lmaoooooooooooooo even the symbol of justice in Nigeria is tired(sic).”

Screenshot of the X post. 

Other sources that published the image are listed here and here. 

However, according to various Nigerian sites, the statue was restored as reported here, here, here, here and here.

A further reverse search of the restored statue brings up a clearer image published by the Daily Post in February 2021. 

What is the Statue/Symbol of Justice?

According to LawPadi, the Nigerian Symbol of Justice is a statue of a blindfolded lady holding a sword on one hand and a scale on the other. The blindfold symbolises that justice should be impartial and, therefore, enforces neutrality.

Heather & Little Ltd, in their article, explain in detail the meanings behind the ‘Lady of Justice’ Statue:

“Artwork depicting the Lady of Justice statue, whether in paintings, sculptures, coats of arms, or metal statues, is found worldwide. In North or South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southern and Eastern Asia, or Australasia, you will likely see the Lady of Justice statue in courthouses, law offices, and legal and educational institutions. The history of the Lady Justice statue goes back many thousands of years, and she typically carries symbols of justice.”

Notably, in Nigeria, this symbol of justice is in different forms, although all the features remain the same and carry the same meaning throughout all the country’s courtrooms. 

On the other hand, South Sudan does not have a statue representing the symbol of Justice and instead uses The National Coat of Arms, which was officially adopted in 2011. It features an African fish eagle with open wings, bearing a gold shield and a crossed spear and spade placed behind the shield. The eagle is seen facing its right side and symbolises strength, resilience, and vision, while the shield and spear represent the protection of the new sovereign state and the people’s hard work to feed it.

South Sudan’s Coat of Arm

Conclusion:

211 Check found a Facebook post by Insight Juba with an image supposedly of South Sudan’s Symbol of Justice as false. The image shows a statue of Nigeria’s Symbol of Justice, which has since been rectified. 

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance(AFCA).

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.

Fact-check: Afriland First Bank in Juba isn’t giving Poverty Relief Fund

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The claim that Afriland First Bank is giving a National Poverty Relief Fund is a hoax and trick designed by scammers to obtain personal details. 

Writer: Abraham Athian

A WhatsApp link widely shared in several direct messages and groups claiming that Afriland First Bank is giving National Poverty Relief Fund worth $ 800 (Eight hundred United States Dollars) is a hoax. 

When clicking on the link, the website claims that a lucky user will have a chance to win $800 after filling out a questionnaire, which inquires about the user’s details and his/her knowledge about Afriland First Bank.

A screenshot of a WhatsApp link 

The scammers are very tricky. They will tell you to answer the questionnaire first and share the link with five WhatsApp groups and 20 friends about their promotion. And wait for the gift to be delivered within 5-7 days after completing the registration. 

Screenshot of a website claim 

The web page has very encouraging comments. Someone may think that the promotion is real because of other people’s comments, which motivate the users to believe in the promotion, for example. “Thanks @ Afriland First Bank! Really, I got a gift”. “I told my friends about it so they can get it too,” which, in the actual sense, is misleading because the comments are static, and the profiles are fake as well as not clickable.

Screenshot of some comments 

Claim Verification:

The Afriland First Bank In Cameroon issued a statement on its Facebook page on Thursday, September 14, 2023. The Post read, “BEWARE OF SCAMMERS”!!! Over the last few days, ill-intentioned individuals have been posing online as Afriland First Bank. They propose a link to access a web platform to steal personal data from internet users.”

They offer users the possibility of substantial amounts being provided, and they participate in a popular nationwide subsidy scheme launched online by First Bank. 

“We wish to inform our esteemed customers and general public that we have not organised such an online scheme. We further wish to remind our customers that we automatically publish our official information on our website ( www.afrilandfirstbank.com ) and our social media platform,” the statement reads in part.

The bank denounced what it called “this fraudulent scheme” devised by scammers and requested the public to be vigilant, considering the growing number of attempts by unscrupulous individuals to defraud unsuspecting users online.

Screenshot of the post by Afriland First Bank

On a separate search for domain details, Whois shows that the fake domain was registered on August 1, 2023, and will expire in August next year. 

Screenshot of a fake domain.

On the contrary, the Whois results for Afriland First Bank’s official website show that it was registered on March 23, 2002, and will expire on March 23, 2024.

Screenshot of Afriland First Bank Domain 

Moreover, the website domain name http://treasuretreat.top/adwtqp/88851586737290191952 does not match the official Afriland First Bank URL www.afrilandfirstbank.com proving that it was a fraudulent scheme designed by the scammers to defraud people. 

A further search by VirusTotal detected that the URL link is Suspicious, Malicious, and Phishing hence, it is unsafe to use. 

Screenshot of Virus Total results 

Conclusion:

211 Check has found the claim that Afriland First Bank is giving the National Poverty Relief Fund a hoax. It is a trick intended to collect personal information and defraud people by scammers. 

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a Pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

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

Fact-check: This is not President Kiir buying potatoes in Munuki Market

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The picture has been on Facebook since September 6, 2023, but its origin is unknown.

Writer: Doki Simon James

A photo shared on a Facebook post by Top in South Sudan allegedly showing President Kiir in Muniki Market, buying potatoes, is false.

Munuki is one of the largest suburbs in Juba City, with two famous main markets of  Suk Libya and  Suk Melissa close to each other.

“Kiir in Munuki Market is buying potatoes today at 4 p.m.,” claims Top in South Sudan’s Post. 

At the time of publication, this claim had attracted 211 reactions, 16 comments, and ten shares, with mixed reactions from members of the public.  A comment from one viewer, “Day by Day,”  said “Thank you for supporting this woman’s business, but you, please purchase her business with some small tip”, while another one lamented, “Photocopy of Kiir.” 

Screenshot of the Facebook post by Top in South Sudan 

Claim Verification:

On investigation, we found that the claim made by Top in South Sudan, an online blog on Facebook, is false.

Levi Kuron, a vendor at Munuki Suk Libya, told 211 Check that the President of the Republic, Salva Kiir, didn’t visit Munuki Market on the stated date and time claimed by the post. Mary Atai, who sells at Munuki Suk Melissa, also said it is untrue, citing that it is unusual.

The post used a photo of a long-bearded person wearing a black suit, a hat (attires familiar to the president), and the name Kiir to create a positive impression in the public and justify the claim that President Kiir went shopping in Munuki Market. 

However, online searches on Google reverse image search, TinEye, and Yandex could not find evidence to confirm that the photo used in the post was taken in Munuki Market or that the person in the photo was President Kiir, as it was never shared on other online platforms. 

Conclusion:

211 Check found the claim made by Top in South Sudan’s Facebook post of a man buying potatoes in Munuki market, alleged to be Kiir, as false. The president of the Republic made no such visit to the Munuki market on the claimed date and time of the post. The photo in the post was not taken in Munuki Market, and the person in the photo is not President Kiir.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

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

Explainer: How to Safeguard Your WhatsApp Account from Hacking Attempts

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Shield your WhatsApp Account from hackers with these top tips!

Writer: Jibi Moses

Many people have fallen victim to hacking in various ways, whether in their emails, social media accounts, pages, profiles, or groups. This always causes frustration, disappointment, and the loss of valuable information and resources.

The new trend is WhatsApp hacking. It involves using social engineering techniques (e.g.,  Vishing, phishing, and smishing) to trick users into revealing their account information or clicking malicious links. Once the hacker has access to the user’s account, they can use it to spread malware, scam the user’s contacts, or even steal their data.

Hackers use a standard social engineering technique: sending a message to the user, pretending to be a trusted friend or family member. The message may ask the user to share a verification code, click on a link, or install a file. If the user falls for the trick, the hacker will then be able to gain access to their account.

Do not share your verification code with anyone.

Another common technique is sending a message to the user claiming to be from WhatsApp. The message may warn the user that their account is at risk of being suspended or banned and ask them to click on a link to verify their account information. If the user clicks on the link, they will be taken to a fake WhatsApp login page where the hacker can steal their credentials.

Ignore such phishing messages, and don’t click links on them.

One recent example happened in South Sudan, where a hacker infiltrated a WhatsApp group and managed to manipulate a user. After initiating a new registration of the WhatsApp number, He calls a group member and tells him/her, We are having a meeting in the evening, and to confirm your attendance, I have sent you a code. It’s on your screen; send it to me. However, the code clearly says.. “Enter this verification code on your phone.”

How to protect yourself from WhatsApp hacking

There are several things you can do to protect yourself from WhatsApp hacking:

  1. Be wary of suspicious messages: If you receive a message from someone you don’t know or from a trusted contact asking for something unusual, don’t click on any links or share any information. Instead, contact the person directly through another channel to confirm that they sent the message.

Phishing is a type of cyberattack that involves sending fake or deceptive messages or links that trick you into revealing your personal information or credentials. Hackers may use phishing techniques to hack your WhatsApp account by pretending to be someone you know or trust, such as a friend, family member, colleague, or official entity.

Be wary of suspicious messages such as the one above.

Be wary of suspicious messages such as the one above.

  1. Never share your WhatsApp verification code with anyone: Your WhatsApp verification code is a unique code sent to your phone when you register for WhatsApp or log in to your account from a new device. This code is used to verify that you own the account. Never share your verification code with anyone, even if they claim to be from WhatsApp.
  1. Keep your WhatsApp app and phone up to date. WhatsApp regularly releases updates that patch security vulnerabilities. Make sure to install these updates as soon as they are available.
  1. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA adds an extra layer of security to your WhatsApp account by requiring you to enter a code from your phone in addition to your password when logging in. To enable 2FA, go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification.

You should also use a strong PIN for two-step verification. Do not use simple or apparent sequences like 123456, 000000, or 111111. Do not use your birthday, phone number, or other personal information as your PIN. Do not write down or share your PIN with anyone.

  1. If you think your WhatsApp account may have been hacked, you should take the following steps immediately:
  • Log out of your WhatsApp account on all devices. You can do this by going to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Unlink Devices.
  • Change your WhatsApp password. Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Tap your profile picture > Tap the menu icon (three dots) > Tap Change password.
  • Enable 2FA if you haven’t already.
  • Report the hack to WhatsApp. You can do this via WhatsApp Settings > Help > Contact Us.

These tips can help protect yourself from WhatsApp hacking and keep your account safe.

  1. Additional tips:
  • Be careful about what information you share on WhatsApp. Avoid sharing personal information such as your address, phone number, or date of birth.
  • Be careful about the groups you join. Hackers may create fake groups to trick users into joining and steal their data.
  • Be careful about the files you download from WhatsApp. Only download files from people you know and trust.
  • If you see anything suspicious on WhatsApp, report it to WhatsApp immediately.

Being vigilant and taking the necessary precautions can help keep yourself and your WhatsApp account safe from hackers.

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.