A claim has been circulating on WhatsApp that a Nigerian singer and record producer, David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly called Davido is sharing 5,000 naira airtime and 10GB data across all networks to his fans to celebrate the arrival of his new born twins.
The claim, widely circulated through the encrypted messaging platform, was sent randomly to many WhatsApp groups.
On Sunday, 15th October, 2023, Davido confirmed welcoming a set of twins with his wife, Chioma Rowland in the United States, The Punch reported.
READ: How to identify phishing scams and websites
However, the claim circulating on WhatsApp groups, was directing people to click a link which contains a “call to action” texts asking readers to apply for their network of choice from the ones listed.
The claim, retrieved from one of the WhatsApp groups on October 22, 2023, reads:
“DAVIDO NEW BORN TWINS CELEBRATION
“Davido is giving out ₦5,000 Airtime and 10GB free data to his fans in celebration of his new born twins.
Choose your network below to get yours
FOR MTN���
https://myfreebyt.org/mcel.html
FOR AIRTEL���
https://myfreebyt.org/mcel.html
FOR GLO���
https://myfreebyt.org/mcel.html
FOR 9-MOBILE���
https://myfreebyt.org/mcel.html.”
CLAIM
Davido is giving out ₦5,000 Airtime and 10GB free data to his fans in celebration of his new born twins.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
A careful look at the web links shows that the URL when clicked or opened have features similar to most phishing websites The FactCheckHub had debunked in recent time as seen here, here, here, here and here.
Also, the writer observed that the same web link was ascribed to the different telecommunication networks mentioned in the WhatsApp post.
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When subjected to verification via multiple WhoIs, the results show that the web link was registered on October 2, 2023. The Whois lookup tool is primarily used to investigate the website’s primary domain owner(s) as it searches the database for verified registration information which oftentimes contains resources such as DNS, domain names, name servers, IPs, ownership info, IP address history, web ranking, web traffic and SEO, among others.
Further checks show that a click on any of the links will take users to a website titled “DAVIDO Twins Celebration Giveaway,” where users were asked to fill in their phone numbers, and then urged to click the “SEND” button.
A click on the ‘send’ button will take users to another page, where users were asked to choose their network of choice.
When users press ‘Proceed’, it takes users to another page with a message that reads, “Congratulations, your Mobile Number is Eligible to receive ₦5,000 airtime and 10GB Free Data. Proceed to Activate your Free Data and airtime.”
Users are then asked to share the link to 5 WhatsApp groups or 15 different friends to claim the airtime and data. After submission, it takes users back to the initial form page for another round of registration.
The FactCheckHub has published several fact-checks on phishing scams and tutorials on how to identify phishing scams, websites and verify viral WhatsApp messages.
Despite these measures, people still fall for these scams as they devise new methods to present them to people, one of which is using information that is true to lure audiences to click on a phishing link. Another is giving out freebies that look too good to be true to individuals.
Forbes reported that clever phishing scams always have a sense of urgency about them because they do not want you to stop and consider what you’re doing. They push emotional buttons to bypass logical thinking.
To reduce the spread of phishing scam messages, individuals should always be suspicious; nothing comes for free !!! They should watch out for mis-spelt words in the messages as this is common with phishing messages and fake domains in the form of mis-spelt websites, the report stated.
Learn how to identify phishing scams here.
THE VERDICT
The claim that Davido is giving out ₦5,000 Airtime and 10GB free data to his fans in celebration of his new born twins is FALSE; multiple evidence show that it is a phishing scam.
* This fact-check was written by Hayatullahi Folorunsho Mudathir, a fellow of the ICIR’s Countering Misinformation and Promoting Media Literacy project.
David i wish you good children