IN SHORT: Several Facebook pages are baiting Nigerians with giveaway offers, claiming they are from two popular mobile money operators. However, their posts lead users to suspicious websites featuring visa sponsorship opportunities. Don't fall for any of these scams.
The Facebook pages Global Speed, Innovative Corner, Alice Media, GiveawayHub and Rash-Man are promoting giveaways allegedly from OPay and PalmPay.
OPay and PalmPay are digital banks operating in Nigeria.
One post from the pages, dated 8 August 2024, reads: “₦500k Giveaway OPAY Ending Next Month Submit Application Today.”
Similar posts, with different amounts to give away and links, can be found here, here, here and here. (Note: See more instances at the end of the report.)
But are these offers genuine? We checked.
Don’t be scammed!
Clicking on the link in the Global Speed post takes users to a webpage with a green button that says “click here to apply”. We clicked on the button and it directed us to a blog post about different US work visas and how to apply for them.
Similarly, posts by Innovative Corner, Alice Media, GiveawayHub and Rash-Man, all offering thousands of nairas in grants and loans allegedly from OPay and PalmPay, directed us to blog posts about visa sponsorship opportunities.
Posts encouraging users to click on links, comment, share or like are a form of engagement bait. They aim to increase their reach and drive traffic to the websites, which may generate advertising revenue.
One of the blog posts asks users to enter their full names and bank account details, which could leave users vulnerable to identity theft.
A search of OPay and PalmPay websites brings up no such giveaways.
When OPay ran what it called a New Year Giveaway in January, it urged users to always check its verified social media pages for legitimate promotions.
In another social media post, the company said, “Once there is an ongoing giveaway, you will be informed via the app.”
To protect yourself, read our guide on how to spot scams on Facebook.
For publishers: what to do if your post is rated false
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Click on our guide for the steps you should follow.
Publishers guideAfrica Check teams up with Facebook
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The content we rate as “false” will be downgraded on Facebook and Instagram. This means fewer people will see it.
You can also help identify false information on Facebook. This guide explains how.
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