By Mustapha Lawal
Claim
A broadcast message spreading on WhatsApp claimed that the Osun state government ₦10,000 relief fund is ongoing.
The broadcast message, which is retrieved from a WhatsApp chat states that the state governor (GOV. Ademola Adeleke) has urged that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation open the financial relief support funds to curb distress in the state.
Verdict
False! Osun State Government does not have any relief fund ongoing via a website. The website linked to the claim showed phishing characteristics. FactCheckAfrica advises Osun citizens to steer off the link and avoid sharing it to curtail the dangers it poses.
Full Text
A WhatsApp broadcast message is circulating, enticing citizens of the state to click a link to register to benefit from the state government ₦10,000 relief fund is ongoing.
The poorly constructed broadcast message reads: “OSUN STATE GOVERNMENT ₦10,000 RELIEF FUND IS ONGOING. Due to (the) high* level of Inflation and Economic Hardship, high cost of feeding, GOV. ADELEKE have urge* (urged) that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation should open the financial relief support funds in order to corp* (curb) distress in the state. Every citizen is entitled to receive the sum of ₦10,000 for 3 Months”.
There is a link (https://slnkz.com/osun-st-relief-funds) to apply attached to the message and also a note urging the receiver to share with others to let them benefit from the relief fund.
This message comes in the wake of a time when citizens of the state and the country at large are facing an unparalleled economic crisis marked by high inflation of food items, plummeting naira and soaring living costs.
However, the scepticism that surrounds this kind of scheme has made FactCheckAfrica opt to verify the authenticity of this claim (website) and set the record straight.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) defines phishing as a method where criminals use deceptive emails, texts, or calls to deceive victims, often directing them to websites aimed at downloading viruses or stealing personal information, including bank details.
Verification
FactCheckAfrica subjected the link to the website contained in the broadcast message to a series of verification tools to determine its authenticity and reliability. It was observed that the website linked (https://slnkz.com/osun-st-relief-funds) to the claim showed phishing Characteristics.
When clicked, the link directs to a page, which states “Application for the ongoing OSUN STATE GOVERNMENT ₦10,000 RELIEF/SUPPORT FUND FOR THE OSUN RESIDENCE, is on till March 28 click apply Apply to the next step. Note! The Number Of Applicants is limited.
Clicking on apply directs the user to a page where they are required to fill out a form requesting their name, email address, phone number and local government area. Upon clicking submit, the website directs them here:
The website in question employs tactics used by fraudulent entities which compel individuals to share it with either 5 users or 15 users on WhatsApp before they are taken to the payment portal, stating further that they will receive an email confirmation within 24 hours.
A thorough examination of the website reveals doctored confirmation of payment to alleged bank accounts, which FactCheckAfrica confirms to be non-existing accounts, All of these are some of the features of a typical phishing website.
When subjected to verification on the WhoIs domain and Scamdoc URL verification tool, the result shows that the website was registered on July 6, 2023, and was last updated on July 21, 2023. Although the URL is adjudged to be secured https, its indicator is not synonymous with the actual security of data.
The Scamdoc analysis of the link showed a very bad rating of 2% and warned that the domain name is very recent (less than 6 months) and the owner of the domain name associated with the site is hidden in the Whois database. Moreover, the link does not show any sign of connection with the state government other than a picture of the governor, which is readily available in the public domain.
The closest news related to relief funds by the state is the Imole Osun Cash Grant Scheme done in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the State Operation Coordinating Unit (SOCU), National Social Safety Net Project, supervised by the Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget and Development for the poor of the poor in the state. Beneficiaries were selected from the State Social Register for Poor and Vulnerable Households, managed by the State Operation Coordinating Unit, National Social Safety Net Project in the Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget, and Development.
According to a statement signed by the Osun state governor spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed on the state government website “the objective of the cash intervention is to provide relief for the most poor and vulnerable population in the state against the harsh economic conditions occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidies, high cost of living among others”.
The beneficiary of the scheme received between N25,000 and N30,000, with 10,390 beneficiaries who already had bank accounts able to access and utilize their funds immediately. The remaining 9,330 beneficiaries will receive debit cards, aligning with the Federal Government’s financial inclusion policy, the Governor represented by the Head of Service, Mr Ayanleye Aina, Adeleke stated at the launch of the scheme.
Based on the combination of all of these traits observed and revealed about the website link, FactCheckAfrica advise citizens to steer off the link and avoid sharing it to curtail the dangers it poses. FactCheckAfrica advises vigilance when encountering offers that seem too good to be true, such as promises of free money or government promotions. It is super important to conduct background checks before clicking on any links to avoid falling victim to scams.
Conclusion
False! Osun State Government does not have any relief fund ongoing via a website.The website linked to the claim showed phishing characteristics. FactCheckAfrica’s verification proved that the link and the information the claim propagates are false. The closest news related to relief funds by the state is the Imole Osun Cash Grant Scheme whose beneficiaries are already selected from the State Social Register for Poor and Vulnerable Households. FactCheckAfrica advise Osun citizens to steer off the link and avoid sharing it to curtail the dangers it poses.
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