A Facebook post that is advertising an investment networking scheme has been circulating online.
The post, allegedly shared by a Facebook page with the name ‘NTA News Nigeria’, read:
Breaking News
NORLAND INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT
This company has been registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria and certified fraud free to do business in Nigeria by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
NO SCAM
NO LIES
This is a Nigerian network marketing company that has collaboration with the CBN and also the government to help the Disables,employees or unemployed citizens of the country achieve their goal.
INVEST NOW AND CELEBRATE WITH US” The company takes pride in the fact that it stands out amongst other network marketing companies. It has the best compensation plan, affordable and effective services, systems that keeps her customers coming back for more..
Click on the WhatsApp button to message for more information and get started thank You🙏
The post indicated that the company is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), adding that the scheme is in collaboration with Nigeria’s central bank.
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The post also had a collage of footages showing testimonies from individuals who claimed to have benefited from the investment scheme.
The post has garnered over 16,000 play views, with more than 100 likes and over 70 comments.
CLAIM
NTA advertises Norland investment scheme.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE, as the Facebook page is fake!
A keyword search of the phrase ‘NTA Facebook handle‘ on Google search engine led us to the original Facebook page of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) which is NTA Network News as shown in the image here.
It has over 950,000 followers and also verified with the ‘Blue tick’.
This is in contrast with the fake Facebook account which had ‘NTA News Nigeria’ as its profile name with 15 followers only.
Further search indicated that the company, Norland International Investment, is not registered in Nigeria, as it was not found on the website of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) – the Nigerian government agency in charge of registration of businesses and companies in the country.
A keyword search of the words ‘Norland Investment‘ on Google search engine provided lists of some companies and social media pages with the name. It also showed that one Norland Investments Limited is actually registered in the United Kingdom, and not in Nigeria as claimed in the Facebook post above.
Norland Industrial Group (NIG) is another name that featured in the search results with characteristics matching the alleged company’s description.
But the company is a health consultancy company that provides supplements and consumables. Pictures of the building and reviews were also contained in the detailed results shown in the Google search.
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However, the NIG also issued a statement as far back as 2022 distancing itself from the ponzi scheme while shedding light on the services and products it offer.
Further checks show that other fact-checking organisations in Nigeria, including Africa Check and Dubawa, had debunked claims associated with the Norland investment scheme as seen here, here and here multiple times.
THE VERDICT
The claim that NTA is advertising Norland investment scheme on Facebook is FALSE; the post is targeted at defrauding unsuspecting individuals in what’s likely a phishing scam.
Seasoned fact-checker and researcher Fatimah Quadri has written numerous fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy pieces for The FactCheckHub in an effort to combat information disorder. She can be reached at sunmibola_q on X or [email protected].
