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No laptop giveaway – ‘Tecno Mobile Uganda’ Facebook page a scam

The single post on the Facebook page “Tecno Mobile Uganda” claims mobile phone manufacturer Tecno and computer company Hewlett-Packard are giving 500 students and teachers free laptops to help them with online studies during the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the giveaway comes with conditions. To get the laptop, you have to “first like the page and share the post in 10 groups, then type each letter of TECNO separately without being interrupted and win a laptop! then inbox with the screenshot.”

This is an example of engagement bait – posts that ask people to interact by liking, commenting or sharing. The more people do this, the greater the Facebook page’s reach.

According to the page transparency section, the page was created on 8 June 2020, the same day the post was shared.

Is the page for real? We checked



‘This is false’


Africa Check asked Tecno Mobile Uganda in a direct Twitter message if the laptop giveaway was legit.

“This is false and our official Facebook page is verified,” the firm told Africa Check.

We followed the link on the verified Twitter account to the company’s official website, which in turn led us to their verified Facebook page.  

Another fake page


On the page, the company warns users of another fake page set up on 23 April 2020. 

“SCAM ALERT!!!” the post reads.  “Please don't be scammed by this fake account. Our official TECNO page is verified (has a blue tick). Please Report the fake page to save your neighbour from scammers.”

The post includes a screenshot of the page, stamped “FAKE PAGE”.

A similar warning was posted on Twitter, notifying users of the fake page impersonating the brand.

To protect yourself against scams, read our guide to Facebook scams and how to spot them. And report any suspicious Facebook pages or posts by using the “page transparency” section or clicking “report post” on the top right of any post. – Grace Gichuhi




 

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