Tag Archive for: #Misinformation

Fact-check: Did a Malawian man attempt to sneak into South Sudan by hanging on a plane’s wing from Malawi?

No, the man was not a Malawian but a Nigerian in Lagos at the Murtala Muhammed International airport enroute to Port  Har-court.

Writer: Ghai Aketch

Earlier this week, a claim showing an image of a man hanging on plane’s wing published by Smart Family TV went viral  in South Sudan captioned as: 

“Malawian man was seen hanging on the wing of an aeroplane and said he wanted to travel abroad seeking a better life, the plane was from Malawi to Juba, South Sudan,” the post reads. 

Screenshot of the post on Facebook

However, our reverse image and keywords searches returned the same image of a Nigerian man who illegally accessed the runway and climbed on a plane’s wing when it was preparing for a take off at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on 19 July 2019. 

According to the Azman Airline, the pilot radioed the security after the authorised man was struggling to access the plane’s cabin, posing danger to the passengers on board. 

According to reports, he climbed on the plane’s wings after dropping his bag in the engine. Fortunately, a passenger on board was quick to capture the unexpected scene on 19 July 2019 that went viral. 

The man was later identified by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria as a Nigerian-born Usman Adamu while in police custody at that time.  

Conclusion:

The information purporting South Sudan and Malawi is false. The original publications clearly indicated the Azman Airline was enroute to Port Har-court. But not Juba, South Sudan.

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

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.

Fact-check: Study finds that parabens hair relaxing products have side effects on African Women

Several researchers have found out some evidence suggesting that heavy use of paraben-containing hair relaxers is linked to an increased risk of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer.

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

Reports that a study has found out that toxic chemicals used in hair products for black women can fuel breast cancer are true.

The new study was conducted by City of Hope, a cancer hospital and research center in Southern California, US and presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Atlanta — found hair care products mostly marketed to Black women contain parabens, a class of hormone-disrupting chemicals.

The study says that these chemicals not only raise women’s chances of getting breast cancer, but also disproportionately fuel the spread of cancer cells in Black women.

The study was widely reported on the internet as can be seen here, here and here.

Screenshot of the headline doing the rounds

What are parabens?

Parabens have been used as artificial preservatives in hair care and beauty products since the 1920s. Parabens can interfere with the normal function of hormones and cause skin irritation. 

The rapid spread of cancer cells in the parabens sulfates is more prevalent in black women.

Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Butylparaben, and Isobutylparaben are the most common parabens.

Breast cancer affects black women disproportionately. According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the demographic has a 41% higher death rate from breast cancer, and black women under 50 have twice the cancer mortality rate as white women.

What are doctors saying about the side effects of hair relaxing creams?

Lejju Benjamin Modi, a medical doctor in Juba explains to 211 Check in detail how beauty creams affect black women, “…and I found that there is some evidence to that effect. Like skin bleaching agents, most of these beauty chemicals contain a lot of cancer-causing agents, especially with prolonged/heavy use…’’

“Black/African American women’s hair relaxers, leave-in conditioners, and oils may contain estrogens or estrogen-disrupting compounds. As a result, their use may increase the risk of breast cancer. The findings of the few previous studies on this topic are contradictory. The Black Women’s Health Study, a nationwide prospective study of Black women, was used to examine the relationship between hair relaxer and leave-in conditioner use and breast cancer incidence. From 1997 to 2017, 2311 incident breast cancers occurred in 50,543 women.…,” a study published in May 2021 has this abstract

“Results of this study were largely null, but there was some evidence that heavy use of lye-containing hair relaxers may be associated with increased risk of ER+ breast cancer. Consistent results from several studies are needed before it can be concluded that use of certain hair relaxers impacts breast cancer development,” the study said.

Conclusion:

211 Check has looked into a research study on the side effects of beauty creams and found out that several researchers discovered some evidence suggesting that heavy use of paraben-containing hair relaxers is linked to an increased risk of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer.

#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 unsure about or know where it comes from.

To learn more about our fact-checking process, go to https://211check.org/ 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.

Fact-check: New care fertility syrup, a herb that claims to boost reproductive health, is unproven

Infertility cannot be cured with natural remedies or herbs. So, before taking any natural supplements, consult your doctor and read about their potential side effects.

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

NewCare Fertility Syrup Ltd asserts in Facebook posts that some natural herbs can improve reproductive health in both men and women, but these herbs have not been scientifically proven.

According to the label, the herb can treat the following reproductive issues: improves pregnancy chances, shrinks fibroids, regulates the menstrual cycle, balances hormones, improves egg quality in women, normal ovarian functions, and treats Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

The company says that the herbal medicine contains the following ingredients: aloe vera, lemon, eucalyptus, beetroots, hibiscus, honey, alkaline vegetable oil, and elephant grass.

NewCare Fertility Syrup Ltd, a Facebook page created on July 12, 2022, is followed by approximately 360 people on Facebook but regularly posts in sponsored advertisements about some natural herbs that can boost reproductive health. They claim that their herbs are always packaged in three litre containers with 30 pills for women and one-litre containers with 30 pills for men.

Screenshot of the alledged herbs

What do users of similar herbs use?

211 Check has interviewed a woman named Juan Mary Paul and this is what she said,’’I have tried these herbs but not from this company. I was diagnosed with fibroids and I decided to take some herbs and do exercise and stopped eating red meat.’’

She continued by saying ,’’Do not forget to prayer as you take what God created for us as medicine,he will for sure put his hands on it.’’ ‘’I also know that no Doctor will believe me ,because the herbs are not scientifically proven and sometimes I doubt the effectiveness of the herbs,’’ she added.

What do doctors in South Sudan say?

Odol George, a doctor at Juba Teaching Hospital in South Sudan’s capital Juba says these herbal treatments are just claims and that the ingredients need some studies. 

“These are just claims because what are the active ingredients that improve fertility?Is it for men or women?What are the areas of actioning the human body?A lot of questions before using the herbs,” Dr. Odol George warns.

Dr. Odol George, continues by saying that,’’Aloe vera and other plants are not active ingredients, these extracts of plants which need to be treated first and then put through thin layer chromatography which will tell these ingredients.”

Studies on herbs as a cure for infertility:

Gilbert Ross medical director of the American Council on Science and Health in New York says, “Many herbal preparations have been documented to contain estrogenic substances, which can have an impact on sex-hormone concentration and fertility in both males and females.”

211 Check finds out that Nidal Jaradat and Abdel Naser Zaid said in a study on the effects of herbal remedies used in the treatment of infertility in males and females that the herbs showed no signs of a positive impact on fertility in both men and women and also lacked evidence that they are clinically safe.

What can help you boost your fertility?

You don’t need many herbal remedies if you are trying to conceive naturally. All you need is a good diet plan, regular exercise, good sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking or drinking alcohol.

Conclusion:

Natural remedies or herbs can’t cure infertility. There are a lot of herbs that can make your infertility even worse. So before taking any natural supplements, talk to your doctor and read about their side effects.

#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 unsure about or know where it comes from.

To learn more about our fact-checking process, go to https://211check.org/ 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.

Fact-check: Is this the correct site for the US Diversity Visa Program 2024? No, it isn’t  

The phishing link is intended to collect personal information of unsuspecting people online.

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A link circulating on the social media platform WhatsApp purporting to be The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, also known as the Green Card Lottery, a United States government lottery programme for receiving a US Permanent Resident Card for 2022/2023 is false.

“The U.S.A DV Visa Lottery online Application Form 2022/2023 registration exercise which is the quickest way for all Foreigners interested in immigrating legally to live, Study and work in UNITED STATES. The Resident Card Lottery Program also known as Diversity Immigration Visa Lottery program is a chance for 45,000 people from all over the world to become permanent and legal residents of the UNITED STATES, meaning that they can live. work and study in the U.S.A.  Interested Applicants are to visit the Online Registration Portal. The Winners Will Be Drawn From Random Selection And There Is No Cost To Register”, reads the false message containing malicious link. 

Screenshot of the shared WhatsApp message

When applicants click on the link, they are taken to a one-page website with a form that requests their title, name, phone number, email, address, country, and account password.

Screenshot of the forms applicants are asked to fill

After filling out the above information, one is said to be considered for a chance even without sending the confirmation email listed in the form; instead, applicants are asked to forward the message to more WhatsApp friends or groups.

Screenshot of the prompt after filling the form

When 211 Check investigated the claim link, it discovered that it was not the same as the official US Department of State website for the 2024 Diversity Visa Program.

As part of the legitimate processes for qualifying for the opportunity, the malicious website asks three questions: how well do you speak English, what is your employment status, and what age range do you prefer?

The form for filling out personal information requires password information, which is unusual given that it is not for logging in.

And it tempts users to send the message to fifteen friends or five WhatsApp groups before submitting the application.

Comparison with the Electronic Diversity Visa Program

211 Check compared the information requirements entered into the Electronic Diversity Visa Application Entry System on the US Department of State website to the one trending on WhatsApp and discovered that they do not match. The website’s features, terms, and conditions differ from the official information on the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs.

And the U.S. government warned the public of fraudsters’ operations trying to distort the official program for personal gains, according to a notice of fraud warning published on the Department of State website.

“The Department of State, Office of Visa Services, advises the public of a notable increase in fraudulent emails and letters sent to Diversity Visa (DV) program (Visa Lottery) applicants. While DV applicants may receive an email from the U.S. government reminding them to check their status online through DV Entrant Status Check, they will not receive a notification letter or email informing them that they are a successful DV entrant. Applicants can only find out if they were selected to continue with DV processing by checking their status online through the DV Entrant Status Check,” reads the fraud warning.

“The only official way to apply for the DV program is directly through the official U.S. Department of State website during the specified and limited registration period”, it adds. 

The screenshots of the true Electronic Diversity Visa Application System

Whois Information:

The domain information for the phishing link shows that it was registered on 07 April, 2022. A scam is usually apparent when a site is created around the same time it went viral.

Screenshot of the Whois domain information of the linkin circulating on WhatsApp

Conlusion 

The link doing the rounds on WhatsApp about the United States resident card visa lottery 2022/2023 is false mimicking the official U.S. Department of State’s Diversity Visa Program. It is a phishing scam designed to harvest personal information from people online by fraudsters.

FALSE: This video of player fighting referee during a football match is not from Rumbek, South Sudan

The video is from September, 2016 and was taken in Zimbabwe and not South Sudan as alleged

A video posted on Facebook claiming to show a footballer fighting a referee during a match at Rumbek, South Sudan is False. 

The video shared online on October 31, 2022 alleged that a player in Rumbek fought a match referee after being red carded.

“A football referee was beaten by a player in Rumbek after issuing him a straight red card.

According to the player, he says the referee was against him for nothing,” reads the caption of the post we are fact-checking.

However, we performed a keyword search on Google and established that the video was recorded in Zimbabwe and first went viral in September, 2016.

The video was taken from a Southern Division One league match pitting Victoria Falls Tigers against Amagagasi.

Trouble began when the referee gave a Victoria Tigers’ player matching orders, only for the latter to descend on him with punches, forcing the match official to retaliate.

211 Check has examined a video posted on Facebook claiming to show a footballer fighting the match referee during an ongoing game at Rumbek, South Sudan and finds it to be False

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

Fact-check: Can paw paw seeds ward off malaria? No, scientifically unproven

Writer: Jibi Moses

A Facebook post by Mr. Chia, a page that concentrates on foods and nutrition claimed on 14th October 2022 that Papaya seeds are a medication for Malaria.

The post that has since attracted 13 reactions, 3 comments and 2 shares carries a picture of a ripe pawpaw with the caption ‘ward off malaria with paw paw seeds’.

The post further claims that the paw paw seeds have more health benefits as in being a powerful antioxidant, relieves menstrual pain, healthy gut, helps in weight loss, anti-cancer properties, and nephroprotective.

A screenshot of the image used by Mr. Chia. 

But, how do paw paw seeds ward off malaria? 211 Check looks at the claim:

The Facebook page, Mr. Chia mostly posts about foods and associated health benefits, and attributes a single food type to be medicinal too many diseases for example, in this case, it named malaria, cancer, healthy gut, reduces on menstrual pain, and protects the kidneys. In another post they wrote on sugarcane, explaining similar benefits.

However, there’s no clear dosage for the patient who is taking the medication in the page’s posts.

211 Check spoke to a medical doctor in Juba, Dr.Gwolo David of Juba Medicare clinic, enquiring whether papaya seeds can help prevent and cure malaria, but he said there’s no proven way that papaya seeds can help prevent or cure malaria though studies have shown its inhibitory effects on Plasmodium falciparum (malaria).

He said papaya, just like any fruit, is nutritional and he advises people to always have them in their diet, but they shouldn’t be eating them as medication. He further advised people to always visit a medical personnel when not feeling okay and take medication as advised by the physician.

Dr.Odol George, a Juba-based physician, had an answer not different from that of Dr.David.

“What is known is that fruits are good for health because they contain a lot of vitamins which will improve body immunity and have antioxidant elements like Vitamin E and Zinc,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from the National Drug Authority were futile, as they couldn’t reply to our email. 

What is Papaya?

According to Wikipedia papaya or pawpaw is the plant Carica papaya, one of the 22 accepted species in the genus Carica family Caricaceae. It was first domesticated in Mesoamerica, within modern day southern Mexico and Central America. In 2020 India produced 43% of the world supply of papaya.

An Internet based nutritional WebMD explains how beneficial papaya is to one’s health. Similarly other sites explains in their different as seen here, here, here and here 

An image of a sliced ripe papaya (pawpaw) fruit. 

Malaria causes symptoms, prevention and treatment 

Malaria is spread by a female anopheles mosquito. Most common signs of malaria are fever, headache, joint pains and others. Malaria can be mild to deadly extent if not treated early enough. There many medicines that treat Malaria according to the way an individual responds to the parasites.

The Center for Diseases control explains more about Malaria, its causes, symptoms and treatment in this post. World Health Organization, the body that regulates and coordinates health issues in the world has this to say about malaria 

Malaria treatment 

Malaria is treated with a variety of medicines some of which are Chloroquine, Doxycycline, and Primaquine.

These health establishments give a better and more explanation on the types of medicines used for treating Malaria and these are: CDC, MedicineNet, and drugs.com.

Conclusion:

Given the findings after the comments from the medical doctors and reliable online sources, there’s on prove that papaya seeds are a medication for either malaria or the other said ailments.

The online nutritional sites which are somehow in support of the claim, warn that patients should first seek advice from a medical Doctor or a physician should they catch malaria.

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

Fact-check: Photo showing two wives of a police officer who gave birth on the same day?

The photos used in the claim were taken in October 2020 at a hospital in Kapoeta county, Eastern Equatoria State, of two women who gave birth to triplets three weeks apart, not on the same day. 

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A Facebook post by Kampala Today on the 13th October, 2022, claimed that a police officer impregnated his two wives and they at the same time gave birth to triplets citing each with two girls, and one boy.

The post which did not mention the name, and the location of the police officer is false.

Apolice officer impregnated his two wives and they coincidentally gave birth on the same day, each having triplets (two girls and one boy each). What a blessing!!”, the post reads.

The post garnered over one thousand comments, sixty nine shares, and about two thousand reactions.

The screen shot of the Facebook post page

The East African Vibes Facebook page carried the same false claim referring also to the unknown police officer. And it received over seven hundred comments, almost two thousand reactions, and fifty shares.

The screen shot of the post

Earlier the social media Facebook page of Kenyan Report referenced the claim to a man who it said “impregnated his two wives and they coincidentally gave birth on the same day, each having triplets”, which is false. Here there are over five hundred reactions, four hundreds comments, and twenty eight shares.

This is the screen shot

And on 9th, Oct, 2022 Juba TV published on its website headlining that a “Kapoeta woman gives birth to six babies, four boys and two girls”, which appeared to have manipulated the falsehood trend on the triplets story.

Findings:

211 Check discovered, however, that the photo accompanying the claim was reported with a story by Hot in Juba in October 2020, of two women in Kapoeta South County hospital of Eastern Equatoria State who each gave birth to triplets three weeks apart.

Two women in Kapoeta may have set record of some kind after they gave birth to triplets just 3 weeks apart. The birth of [two] triplets four boys and two girls went viral after a member of the family posted pics of the triplets while still in [h]ospital”, Hot in Juba reported that time.

In addition, Eye Radio reported in October 2020 about another man who abandoned his wife in Kapoeta hospital after she gave birth to triplets (two boys and one girl).

Conclusion:

211 Check has found that the claim of a police officer’s wives having given birth to triplets is false. The photos used in the claim were taken in October 2020 at a hospital in Kapoeta county, Eastern Equatoria State, of two women three weeks apart, not on the same day, after they each gave birth to triplets.

Fact-check: Can drinking hot lemon water cure cancer? Not scientifically proven

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A widely circulated WhatsApp message claiming that drinking hot lemon water can cure cancer is false.

The message, which warns people against using conventional cancer treatments and claims that mixing lemon fruit with hot water “is 1,000 times better than chemotherapy,” was attributed to Dr. Guru Prasad Reddy BV, who claimed to be a professor at Osh State Medical University in Moscow, Russia.

Screenshot of the claim posted on Facebook

Screening will not and cannot lower the cancer cases. There are very many people who are going to India. A friend who has been going to India for the last three years because of cancer told me 50% of people in the cancer clinics in India are usually Africans (Kenya/Uganda) etc. Sadly, many don’t make it even after these treatments, this is the bit that we are never told,” reads part of the message on social media.

“Blend a whole lemon fruit with a cup of hot water and drink it for about 1-3 months first thing before food and cancer would disappear, research by Maryland College of Medicine says, it’s 1000 times better than chemotherapy”, the message adds.

Is this true? 211 Check investigates the claims made in the WhatsApp message:

211 Check established that Dr. Guru Prasad Reddy is a specialist in plastic surgery at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Hyderabad-Kondapur in India, not professor at Osh State Medical University in Russia.

And Osh State Medical University is a public University in Kyrgyzstan not in Moscow-Russia as claimed. The link is here

And 211 Check found no publicly available research published about lemon treating cancer by University of Maryland, College of Medicine. And lemon is not even in clinical trials as a medicine for cancer at the University.

In 2017, the claim was posted on a Facebook page by Home Ayurvedic remedied which garnered 102 comments, and 280 shares was also referenced to have been written by Dr. Guru Prasad Reddy. The link is here

The same message was also shared many years back and attributed to several doctors from different countries and institutions which some of them debunked as fake and said the claim was completely false.

AFP published a fact-check in August 2021 on the same claim as false which at that time was attributed to Chief Executive Professor Chen Horin from Beijing Military Hospital who according to AFP the professor was faked.

This matter is very important..…lemon slices in a glass of hot water can save you for the rest of your life. Hot lemon water kills cancer cells. Cut a lemon into three pieces and put them in a cup. Then pour hot water in it. It’s done (alkaline water). Drinking it on a daily basis will give special benefits”, AFP quoted a post on Facebook in 2018 which was shared 125,000 times as said by Professor Chen Horin. 

However, AFP found out that the real chief physician Chen Huiren at Beijing Military Hospital name was the one faked in the claim, not Horin.

A cancer specialist at Bangladesh Cancer Society Hospital, Prof Dr Golam Mohiuddin Faruque, who was quoted by AFP said the claim was a hoax but said lemon can prevent some types of cancer however, not cure.

“No one can say hot lemon water…..can cure cancer and such claims have no scientific basis. There are different types of cancers and many of these have their own ways of treatment but drinking hot lemon water is definitely not among them. Citrus fruits including lemon sometimes can have some positive impact in preventing certain types of cancers but that’s not a treatment.” he was quoted as saying by AFP.

Scientific facts:

The lemon cure claim for cancer has been also disputed by the National Center for Health Research as untrue after modified citrus pectin – a carbohydrate in the peels of citrus fruits studied with humans’ prostate cancer was unsuccessful.

And it said limonoids chemical found in citrus peels has proved ineffective in preventing cancer in human beings.

Dr. Manish Singhal termed the claim as myth but it is a good idea to have lemon either in hot or cold water because it will keep one very hydrated by washing toxins and acids in the stomach. However, thinking that it can cure cancer is not true.

Cancer Research UK in 2013 has also clarified that “there’s no scientific evidence to show that lemon juice can cure cancer, despite what is on the internet”. 

And the U.S. National Centre for Health Research, “lemons are not a “proven remedy against cancers of all types,” and no studies have ever been done that would compare the effectiveness of a lemon to chemotherapy.”

There is currently no World Health Organization (WHO) factsheet on lemon curing cancer in patients, and what is circulating on the internet about lemon hot water curing cancer remains just a hypothesis not scientifically proven.

Conclusion:

211 Check investigated posts on lemon hot water curing cancer that have been going on for years in various platforms, with others claiming that the lemon is 10,000, 10, and 1,000 times more effective than chemotherapy are unproven. And because no scientific studies have proven the claim to be true, it remains a health myth.

Fact-check: Does mGurush charge clients for deposits? No, it doesn’t

Writer: Beatrice Amude

A tweet by a Twitter user on 6th October 2022 claimed that m_Gurush, a mobile money platform in South Sudan charges clients for cash deposits.

I heard mGurush charges for cash deposit. A  messed up strategy in every aspect,” the tweet reads.

The tweet got attention of tweeps including a tweet reply that seems to confirm that claim.

Non agents do charge ones when depositing money, but m_Gurush main outlets DO NOT charge on deposit,” a tweep said in a tweet reply.

Screenshot of the false claim on Twitter

We contacted both an mGurush agent and client to know their experience when depositing.

Lucky Charles, owner of Jami General Trading and Investment Company Limited and an agent for mGurush, tells 211 Check that clients are not charged when depositing money into their mGurush wallets over a private line, but mGurush charges when withdrawing cash.

Lucky Charles said, “For us as agents,when we sent money to private line,we are not charged and they can not charged the private line,unless the private line wanted to withdraw money.’’

Caesar Lemi, a mGurush client, stated that he deposited money into his account yesterday without incurring any fees.

‘’ Even yesterday, I deposited money to my mGurush account without any charges,’’ Lemi told 211 Check

He told 211 Check that this claim is false, but mGurush agents tell him that they do not have money when he normally wants to withdraw cash.

mGurush replies

“No, we do not charge for cash deposits,” mGurush said in a reply to 211 Check when asked via messenger.

“Please report any agent who charges for deposit. We have tariff guides displayed and also our service charges are shown on your confirmation screen when withdrawing,” it said on Twitter.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that mGurush charges for cash deposits false.