A Kiswahili message posted on several public Facebook groups since April 2022 claims that Tanzanian gospel musician Christina Shusho is giving out loans, with the money sent via mobile phone.
The message promises loans of TSh300,000 to TSh5 million within 30 minutes. It tells people wanting the loan to text the word “mkopo”, Kiswahili for loan, via WhatsApp to the number 0689598296.
“SHUSHO BRANCH..TANGAZO LA MKOPO KWA WA TANZANIA WENZANGU. TUMA NENO MKOPO WHATSAPP 0689598296 SHUSHO BRANCH MIKOPO ONLINE KWA DAKIKA 30 TUU,” it reads.
“Tunatoa mkopo wa dharura, tunakopesha kuanzia, TSh.300,00/= (laki 3) Hadi Tsh.5000,000/=(million tano.) Kwa mtu yoyote mwenye huitaji na mkopo. Mkopo huu wa dharura, tunatoa kwa njia ya online (mtandaoni), kupitia I tovuti yetu, mkopo popote pale ulipo kupitia simu yako ya mkononi.”
This translates as: “Shusho Branch … loan announcement to my fellow Tanzanians. Send the word LOAN to 0689598296. We are giving instant emergency loans, we give loans of TSh300,000 up to TSh5,000,000. Anyone in need of an instant loan can apply online via our website and receive it on your phone. Send the word LOANS to 0689598296 on WhatsApp. Shusho branch is easy and legit and fast.”
Africa Check has previously debunked scams with claims that a public figure was giving out loans and other goodies. Is this also a scam? We checked.
‘I do not give out loans’
We took a look at Shusho’s official Facebook page and didn’t find any loan offers. The page only shows typical posts about her music, biblical quotes, and more.
But we did find a post, dated 4 April, where Shusho warns people not to fall for the loan message.
It shows a screenshot of the message, stamped “FAKE!!”. Shusho captioned it: “I DO NOT GIVE LOANS NOR DO I OWN A COMPANY THAT DEALS WITH LENDING. THIS ARE FAKE POSTS ON FACEBOOK. BE WARE!!”
The message is likely a phishing scam aiming to steal people’s valuable personal information.
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