Fact Check: World Health Organization Did Not Offer Free 1GB Data, Viral Post Is Fake
WHO did not offer free 1GB data. The viral message is fake.
- By Vishvas News
- Updated: May 10, 2020
A viral post on social media claims that World Health Organization is providing free 1GB data daily until April 30. Along with the message, a link is also provided. Although it is May, but the message is still circulating online across social media with the link. Vishvas News investigated and found that the viral post is fake.
Claim
Vishvas News received a message on Whatsapp which read: FREE INTERNET RECHARGE FROM World Health Organization. Get 1GB data per day till 30th April. You can’t access adult content using data provided by WHO. Click Here and Get Now. http://bit.ly/WHO-Recharge.
Investigation
Vishvas news started its investigation by clicking on the link given in the viral message. After clicking on the link we landed to a website
http://who-recharge.blogspot.com/ It was a blogging website that had been removed.
We spoke to India representative of World Health Organization (WHO). She said: “Please spread a word that this is fake. WHO has not offered free data.”
WHO has also cautioned against criminals pretending to be WHO. It states: Hackers and cyber scammers are taking advantage of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic by sending fraudulent email and WhatsApp messages that attempt to trick you into clicking on malicious links or opening attachments.
Conclusion: WHO did not offer free 1GB data. The viral message is fake.