Tag Archive for: #SocialMedia

Fact-check: Was this a thief on a street light in Juba? No.

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By 211 Check Desk

Introduction

A photo allegedly of a thief on a street light pole avoiding beating in Juba is FALSE.

The photo shared on Facebook on March 28, 2022 by Insight Juba, a news and media website got over 180 interactions, 44 comments and 14 shares.

A screenshot of the misleading post taken on March 29, 2022

It shows a group of people looking up a street light where what looks to be a human is resting.

The post’s picture caption reads: “A thief climbed a street light pole to avoid beating in ( maybe Juba 🤷🏿‍♂️).” 

Findings:

Google reverse image searches found the picture in a tweet from March 08, 2019, by a Kenyan politician.

He captioned the picture. “Roho ni Moja jameni. Pictured is a thief avoiding being lynched by an angry mob.”

The photo was also shared in similar tweets on 23rd March 2022, Mar 12, 2022, here and also here.

Conclusion:

The photo allegedly of a thief on a street light pole avoiding beating in Juba is FALSE. The image is from March 2019 in Kenya.

#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 Africa Fact-checking Alliance incubation program under Code for Africa.

Fact-check: This photo shows a car bombing scene in Kabul, Afghanistan, not a fire outbreak in Juba

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By 211 Check Desk

Introduction:

A photo shared on Facebook by South Sudan Eye, a page that parades as a personal blog with over 48,000 followers claimed that there was a fire outbreak in Juba last night.

In fact, the picture shows the scene of a car bombing outside a Defense Ministry building in Kabul, Afghanistan in July 2019.

“Juba on fire 🔥,” reads the Facebook post by South Sudan Eye on March 28, 2022 shared more than 5 times with over 290 interactions and 140 comments.

A screenshot of the misleading post taken on March 29, 2022

Juba is the capital city of South Sudan in Central Equatoria State.

The posts circulated after a State of Nation Address on Monday afternoon, in which President Salva Kiir Mayardit assured Juba residents of guaranteed security.

There were fears following deployment of security organs across the city that day.

However, the photo shared by South Sudan Eye on its Facebook page was not taken in Juba yesterday.

Findings:

A reverse image search on Google traced the photo to several news articles from July, 2019 including those by CNN and the New York Times. 

One of the articles is headlined “Kabul blast kills 6, injures 105 people”, referring to the incident from which the photo was taken.

Conclusion:

The photo shared on Facebook claiming that there was a fire outbreak in Juba last night is FALSE. The photo shows the scene of an incident in Kabul, Afghanistan in July 2019.

#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 ourAfrica Fact-checking Alliance incubation program under Code for Africa.

Fact-check: Has the SPLM-IO been dissolved as claimed? No.

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A press release allegedly from First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny released on Sunday, 06 March 2022 claiming that the SPLM-IO party has been dissolved is False. His press secretary Puok Both says the information is false and fabricated.

By 211 Check Desk

According to a press release allegedly from First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny released on Sunday, 06 March 2022, the SPLM-IO party has been dissolved.

“…Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhorgon released a statement dissolving SPLM-IO party and joining the mother party SPLM under President Salva Kiir Mayardit,” partly reads the statement shared on WhatsApp.

Screenshot of the Misleading Press Statement
Screenshot of the Misleading Press Statement

The statement was not released by Riek Machar, however.

Investigation

The statement is not viewable on Riek Machar’s Facebook Page or Twitter Account nor did 211 Check find any news reports of the alleged statement in South Sudan’s mainstream media.

The alleged statement shared by online users was not released by First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, his press secretary, Puok Both told 211 Check.

“This is false and fabricated information,” Puok Both said in a message reply to  211 Check.

Conclusion:

False. First Vice President, Riek Machar Teny has not dissolved his SPLM-IO party.

#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.

Scam Alert: Fake Facebook Accounts

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The Facebook accounts Awow Daniel Chaung and Josephine Napwon Cosmos asking random Messenger users to wire them money are imposters.

By 211 Check Desk

211 received reports about two Facebook accounts. The names Awow Daniel Chaung, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Petroleum, and Josephine Napwon Cosmos, Minister for Environment and Forestry, are both forgeries. They are pretending to be these government officials.

According to reports received by 211 Check, these accounts are randomly requesting monetary assistance from Facebook users via messenger, as shown in the screenshots below.

In one of the incidents, the fake accounts claim to have ordered a car from Japan, arrived at the Malaba border, and needed assistance so that a victim would send money for border clearance.

Screenshots of the Fake Accounts and their messages 

Surprisingly, if you repeatedly question them or become suspicious of them, they will block you and move on to the next unsuspecting prey.

The impostor usually gives unsuspecting people an MTN Uganda number so that money can be transferred through the line.

Josephine Napwon’s legitimate Facebook page is: Hon. Josephine Napwon – National Minister of Environment and Forestry RSS.

Awow Daniel Chaung does not run a personal page at the moment.

Spot and Avoid Government Impersonator Scams

  • A government impersonator scam often starts with a call, email, or text message from someone who says they’re with a government agency or official. They might give you their “some reason” to sound official. And they might have information about you, like your name or home address.
  • They’ll also give you some reason why you need to send money or give them your personal information immediately. If you get a message like that, ignore the message. It’s a scammer.
  • Because government agencies or officials won’t call, email, or text you and ask for money or personal information. Only a scammer will do that.

 How to avoid the scam

  • Don’t wire money, send cash, or use any kind of transaction to pay someone who says they’re a government official or agency. Scammers ask you to pay these ways because it’s hard to track that money, and almost impossible to get it back. They’ll take your money and disappear.
  • Don’t give your financial or other personal information to someone who calls, texts, or emails and says they’re a government official or agency. If you think a call or message could be real, stop. Hang up the phone and call the government agency directly at a number you know is correct.
  • Don’t click on links in unexpected emails or text messages. Scammers send emails and text messages that look like they’re real, but are designed to steal your money and your personal information. Don’t click on any link, and don’t pass it on to others. Simply delete the message.

#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.

Fact-check: @BSS_Original is the authentic Twitter Account for the Bank of South Sudan

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The authentic Twitter account for the Bank of South Sudan is @BSS_Original. Therefore, any information published in other accounts bearing its name should be ignored.

By 211 Check Desk 

The Central Bank of South Sudan currently has three Twitter accounts in its name, this has made it difficult for its followers to figure out which is authentic and actively used.

We cross checked to find out, which is legitimate.

Findings:

A spokesperson of the Bank of South Sudan, Majok .N. Arou tells 211 Check on Wednesday that the @BSS_Original created in February 2022 is their legitimate handle.

https://twitter.com/BSS_Original?s=09

“It is confirmed by the technician. It is our Twitter,” he told 211 Check in a WhatsApp message.

Independent examination by 211 Check also shows that the @BSS_Original account has been tweeting daily since creation.

Screenshot of Bank of South Sudan’s Authentic Twitter

The other account @BankofSouthSuda created in July 2013 last tweeted in January 2014 whereas the @BankofSouthS account created in December 2018 last tweeted in July 2019.

Conclusion:

The authentic Twitter account for the Bank of South Sudan is @BSS_Original. Therefore, any information published in other accounts bearing its name should be ignored.

#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.

Fact-check: Did Putin ask President Kiir to apologise?

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211 Check findings show that the viral videos are fake and digitally altered. They are satirical content intended for comedy.

By 211 Check Desk

Viral Tiktok videos in which Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to have asked South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir to apologise are satire.

Sharing two separate videos of some Indian news plates, social media users claim that South Sudan has condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine telling it to withdraw its forces immediately.

Screenshot of the Satirical Video

A separate video also claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin had warned South Sudan to stay away from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and that South Sudan’s President Kiir should apologise.

“The President of the Republic of South Sudan H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine. He warned Russia’s President Putin to withdraw his troops before it is too late,” partly reads the satirical news.

Investigation:

211 Check findings show that the viral videos are fake and digitally altered. They are satirical content intended for comedy. The videos were made using a sophisticated app or software.

The video clips are a mix from different events. One is during an Al Jazeera interview with President Salva Kiir years back.

It should also be noted that until the time of publishing this fact-check, South Sudan has not issued an official statement condemning the Russian attack on Ukraine.

Representatives of Western nations in South Sudan instead asked South Sudan to stand in solidarity with Ukraine according to a Monday report by Juba Echo

So, what did Putin say?

On 24 February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine. He appeared for a televised address and declared a military operation that aims to ensure a demilitarisation of Ukraine

“I would like to say something very important for those who may be tempted to interfere in these developments from the outside. No matter who tries to stand in our way or all the more so create threats for our country and our people, they must know that Russia will respond immediately, and the consequences will be as you have never seen in your entire history,” Putin is quoted saying.

He did not specifically warn South Sudan. You can read his full speech here.

Conclusion:

Digitally altered videos claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to have asked South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir to apologise are satire.

#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.

Explainer: Beware of fake content that exploits emotions and clouds rational thought

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Content that shocks or horrifies or makes us feel anxious or fearful is often used by disinformers. This week we show how our emotional responses are used to cloud rational thought and how disinformation can entrench stereotypes.

By Daily Maverick

Those who wish to spread disinformation often play on our emotions. It’s a tactic that is also used by salespeople. How many of us, for example, have been in a shop where we are thinking of making a purchase (usually an expensive one) and seeing us hesitate, the salesperson tells us how much interest there has been in the same item and how the one we are looking at is the last one? This is designed to make you anxious about losing a possible bargain, while encouraging you to make a decision based on another person wanting the same item. It adds urgency and pressure.

Most of the media organisations in South Sudan, which adhere to professional standards of ethical journalism, don’t publish fake news. Our media usually think very carefully when using graphic and disturbing images, and offer context and warning and, crucially, some kind of justification for showing unverified images. 

If you see suspicious content on a social media platform, ask: Why is it there? Who has posted it? What do they hope to achieve? Ask if there is any justification for using such graphic content and if it advances the story in any way. 

If you find content about issues you are uncertain of, or if you are vaccine-hesitant, and suddenly your emotional buttons are being pressed, exercise extreme caution, check credible media and then avoid sharing, unless there are clear reasons to do so. 

A quick note on credible media – how do you know? Well, you can look to see if the media organisation subscribes to accepted standards of professional journalism. Do they offer a credible means of addressing complaints? Do they tell you who the editor is? Any media organisation that avoids such mechanisms is not helping with their or the media’s credibility. 

Another role as a reader and active member of the public is to keep reporting those who seek to exploit and heighten fear. It won’t stop disinformation, but it may reduce its spread and cause less harm. It is critical that we all play our part in combating and mitigating these digital offences. If you suspect that content on digital media is disinformation, hate speech, harassment of journalists or incitement to violence, report it to relevant authorities in your area.

Fact-check: Is David Uri Ben Uziel a South Sudanese army General? No.

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David Ben Uziel is an Israeli army general, not South Sudanese. He came to the then Southern Sudan to help train the Anya-Naya guerilla movement.

By 211 Check Desk

A post shared by Insight Juba, a Facebook media page claimed that Gen. David Ben-Uziel, a veteran Israeli soldier who played an active role in the Anya-nya revolution is a South Sudanese army General.

Screenshot of post claiming that David Ben is a South Sudanese

The post created a controversial online debate, but here is the truth:

In 1969, the Israeli government under the leadership of Golda Meir decided to assist the Anya-Nya guerilla movement in South Sudan in its fight against the Sudan government. 

Gen. David Ben Uziel, was then chosen to lead the Israeli agents to Southern Sudan and helped train the Anya-Nya guerilla movement.

Gen. David Uri Ben Uziel (AKA Tarzan or John) is the First Israeli to enter South Sudan in 1969 for a fact-finding mission in order to come to conclusion about the envelopment of the State of Israel to build the AnyaNya to become a fighting force for the freedom of the People of South Sudan.

Read more about him here.

Conclusion:

David Ben Uziel is an Israeli army general, not South Sudanese. He came to the then Southern Sudan to help train the Anya-Naya guerilla movement.

#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.

Fact-check: The Ministry of Finance and Planning is NOT giving out 3 million USD grants to businesses.

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A media official at the Ministry of Finance and Planning says the Facebook page running the advert is fake. According to him, updates from the ministry are shared on the minister’s social media accounts at the moment.

By 211 Check Desk

A sponsored Facebook post on a fake account of the Ministry of Finance and Planning 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.

Screenshot of the hoax

They then direct users to fill in a google form.

Screenshot of the Google Form

When contacted by 211 Check, 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.

211 Check investigations have found out that the Facebook page was created on 24th February 2022. It is an attempt to collect personal information for monetary gain.

Do not fill out the form and disregard the information.

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.

Fact-check: Is there a new way of using Facebook and WhatsApp for free? No.

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The only Free Facebook that allows you to text is offered by MTN South Sudan. You don’t need to give anyone your login credentials such as phone number, email or password to use Facebook for free on MTN.

By 211 Check Desk

Recently, hoax messages have circulated claiming that there is a new way “to use Facebook and WhatsApp without the need to buy data bundles for six months.”

The message sender then requests a user’s login information, such as their phone number and password, so that “they could activate it.”

Screenshot of the Hoax Message

Some desperate users who shared their login information were compromised, resulting in the loss of their Facebook and Messenger accounts.

“If you receive one of these messages, delete it and ignore it instead of forwarding it,” says Arik Robert, SafetyComm South Sudan Team Leader, to 211 Check.

“Those who participate in the hoax waste their time and have their online privacy violated,” he said.

Common Facebook Scams

  • Fake Links/Clickjacking – Fake news, free giveaways, etc. can be delivery methods for malware. Just like email scams of the past, these leverage stories, news or offers that catch your attention. The point is to have you click on a link or share something that propagates malware. 

Examples include:

  1. Direct Messages with links or attempts to get you to look at something.
  2. Links resulting in another login request for Facebook/Email Provider – this is to harvest your account.
  3. Surveys – Some surveys on Facebook are created to harvest information about users for identity theft/account hijacking/spear phishing (crafted attacks).
  • Fake Accounts – Fake Facebook accounts can fall into many different types of scams. Examples include:
  1. Account Cloning – I’ve seen this approach grow in frequency in the last year. Indications of a cloned account are a second Facebook Friend Request – if you’re already connected on Facebook, you should not receive a second Facebook Friend Request. The old email trick – “I’m in jail in a foreign country, can you send money?” has migrated to Facebook with a different twist. 
  2. Friend of Friend/Relative – Some fake accounts are created and operated to entice you to trust them. Within a short period of time, they promise money or ask for it. Many scams revolve around large sums of money if you provide a fee or personal data.
  • Romance – Another common scam are requests to “be friends” or “…get to know you”. I’ve seen many people fall for these accounts. They can be grouped into two primary categories:
  1. For the Lulz – Some people create and operate fake accounts for their own personal needs or dysfunctions. They may not ask for money and simply crave attention. I’ve seen men pretend to be women and women pretend to be men in the digital world. 
  2. For the Money – These scammers are versed in spending time to build up a dependency.  They may send you small amounts of money to build up their credibility. Eventually, it leads to needing money from you. Once this starts, they go for everything they can get.  Many of these scammers know how to pull your heart strings to get what they want. 
  3. Your Employer – Sometimes it’s not about exploiting you, but who you work for. Cisco’s 2016 Annual Security Report listed malware delivered via Facebook scams as a top delivery method to compromise organizational networks. Great cybersecurity measures are easily compromised by enticing someone to click a link at work. Some employers block Facebook for these specific reasons. 

Protecting Yourself – There are some key steps to protect yourself: 

  • Setup Security – Many people think their accounts are secure and details hidden. Many people lockdown their posts, but leave photographs, check-ins, etc. open. These are all great data sources for scammers to use against you. Lock everything down and test the setup. Open only the functions that you need to.  (If you have security minded friends or family, ask them for help. Sometimes a second set of eyes spot missed settings.)
  • Real World Suspicion – If you wouldn’t do it in the physical world, don’t do it in the digital world. If you met someone on the street who said they lived in your neighborhood 20 years ago and ten minutes later asks for your Social Security Number to give you $2000, you’d be suspicious. You should use the same scrutiny and judgement, and more so, in the digital world. Just because someone says something is true, does not mean it is. It just means they said it. “Never assume anything is true until you verify it yourself.” If it sounds too good to be true, 99% of the time, it is not true.  Be cautious.

Conclusion:

211 Check has looked into messenger messages claiming that there is a new way of using Facebook and WhatsApp for free and finds them 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.