Fake: Govt has not promised a Rs 5,000 lockdown fund
New Delhi, May 25: A WhatsApp forward that promises of free Rs 5,000 in relief funds from the government as a limited time offer is fake.
The message redirects to a questionable website with many red flags which is not associated with the government in any way.
The similar message and similar website is viral on Kenyan social media offering lockdown benefits in Kenyan shillings instead of Indian rupees.
Fake: This video of a crowded market is from Pakistan not India
The message reads 'FG [federal government] has finally approved and have started giving out free Rs.5,000 Relief Funds to each citizen.
Below
is
how
to
claim
and
get
yours
credit
Instantly
as
I
have
just
did
now
https://bit.ly/free---fundsNote
:
You
can
only
claim
and
get
credited
once
and
it's
also
limited
so
get
your
now
Instantly.'
The message comes with a link that says activates the benefits.
Similar to the Facebook comments section the website displays a number of comments stating that the users have received the benefits being offered by the website.
No matter how many times or when one visits the website, the page will show that there are precisely 1,936 lockdown packages left to be given
Also, the name of the beneficiaries, as claimed, and timestamp in the comments - always set at 'just now' for all and '2 mins ago' for one comment - never change.
Fake: Image of lady on bi-cycle being passed of as Indian migrant is from Nepal
Many Twitter account holders have asked the authorities about its authenticity by sharing the message.
The message is being circulated at a time when people are losing their jobs and source of earning and have started demanding for relief funds from the government due to the ongoing national lockdown that started on March 25 to contain COVID-19 spread.