July 14, 2023
Africa: Mauritius to Host the 2023 Africa Facts Summit
The 2023 edition of the Africa Facts summit, to be held in the Mauritian capital of Port Louis on 5-6 October, will bring together fact-checking organisations and experts from all… Read more »
July 17, 2023
Africa: Raising Informed Media Consumers Starts At School
Simply teaching media literacy is not enough in today's online environment. Africa Check has created fact-checking resources for teachers that directly target harmful information. Read more »
Kenya: Yes, Kenyan President Right That Salaries and Wages Take Up 46 Percent of Revenue, but Made a Common Statistical Error
Kenya's public finances have been in the spotlight this year, as the new government struggles to balance the books. William Ruto recently tried to quantify the challenge by looking… Read more »
July 13, 2023
Nigeria: Facebook Posts Offering Money Doubling Investments Not From Popular Nigerian Mobile Money Operator Palmpay
IN SHORT: Some Facebook users are promoting PalmPay Global Investment, saying it can double your money. But this is a scam and is not affiliated with PalmPay, the mobile money… Read more »
Nigeria: Nigerians, Beware of Facebook Account Impersonating Money App Opay
IN SHORT: A Facebook page is impersonating popular financial service company, OPay, and offering false investments to Nigerians. The real company says it does not have an… Read more »
Nigeria: Beware! Facebook Posts Impersonating Opera News Nigeria Are Out to Take Your Money
IN SHORT: Africa Check has exposed several Facebook accounts falsely claiming to offer investment services. These posts, claiming to represent Rolvi Trading, have also been… Read more »
July 11, 2023
Nigeria: Nigerians, Beware of Scam Offering Mobile Data to Users With Older Airtel SIM Cards
IN SHORT: Africa Check recently debunked a scam offering free data to MTN customers with older SIM cards. Like those Facebook posts, these doing the rounds on WhatsApp and Facebook… Read more »
July 06, 2023
Nigeria: Nigerians, Beware of Facebook Accounts Promising to Double Your Investment in 45 Minutes
IN SHORT: Africa Check has exposed several Facebook accounts falsely claiming to offer investment services. This time scammers have used the name of the OctaFX trading platform to… Read more »
June 28, 2023
South Africa: No, Video of Off-Road Car Taken By Flooded River Filmed in Nicaragua, Not South Africa
A video on social media shows a car carried away by floodwater as the driver struggles to escape. But this fatal incident took place in Nicaragua in Central America, not South… Read more »
Africa: Billionaire Elon Musk Is Not On Facebook and Tesla Phones Don't Exist - Beware of Imposter Accounts With Fake Offers
Entrepreneur Elon Musk has previously confirmed that he does not have a Facebook account and that his company, Tesla, does not make phones. So don't fall for this fake account… Read more »
June 27, 2023
South Africa: Beware! Govt Is Not Giving Away 10GB of Data to Every Household
IN SHORT: An offer of free data from the government could really help job seekers in their search. But in this case, these offers are a way for scammers to get your personal… Read more »
June 21, 2023
Kenya: Is Shoe Company Bata On the Verge of Closing Down in Kenya? No, Ignore Rumours Circulating On Social Media
IN SHORT: With over a 100 years in business, Bata is one of the biggest shoe manufacturers in Kenya. But rumours that it is about to close down, with jobs at risk, are false. Read more »
June 19, 2023
Kenya: Did a Plane Crash At Kenya's Largest Airport As Claimed in Several Photos Online? No, It Was a Drill
IN SHORT: Several videos on social media claim to show photos of a plane crash at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The port manager says it was an emergency drill. Read more »
June 22, 2023
Nigeria: No Evidence That Nigeria's President Has Ordered All Local Oil Refineries Be Fully Operational Within Six Months
IN SHORT: President Bola Tinubu has made some bold calls since he was sworn in on 29 May 2023. But ordering ailing oil refineries into operation is not one of them. Read more »
June 15, 2023
Nigeria: Scam Alert! Ignore Fake BBC News Page in Nigeria Tempting You to Double Your Money On Their Investment Platform
IN SHORT: Africa Check has exposed several Facebook accounts falsely claiming to offer investment services. This is yet another scam account, impersonating BBC News and asking… Read more »
Nigeria: Beware! Guide 'Against Bank Account Hackers' Is Not From Nigeria's Central Bank
IN SHORT: While the country's main bank would want to protect Nigerians from bank account fraud, a guide purporting to be from it is more likely to get the faithful into trouble. Read more »
May 31, 2023
Kenya: Don't Be Conned By Facebook Page Impersonating Kenyan Actor Jackie Matubia
IN SHORT: Scammers in Kenya often impersonate celebrities to carry out their schemes. Read more »
Africa: Did Gaddafi Plan to Introduce an African Currency Backed By Gold Reserves? Maybe, but There's Little Evidence for This
Over the years we've frequently seen the claim that former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had plans to introduce an international currency. But as with so many details of Gaddafi's… Read more »
South Africa: Don't Believe Images of Satanic Figures Reading to Children - 'Baphomet Book Club' Photos Are Ai-Generated
Artificial intelligence may lead to exciting innovation, but it also has a dark side. It's been used to generate images of children taking part in "satanic education rituals" which… Read more »
April 28, 2023
Africa: No, Google Does Not Specifically Exclude Christian Holidays Like Easter From Google Doodles
IN SHORT: Is tech giant Google waging a war against Christianity, exemplified by it excluding Christian holidays like Easter from its Google Doodle feature? Quite simply, no. Read more »
June 14, 2023
Nigeria: No Evidence Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu Has Suspended State Oil Firm Boss As Claimed Online
IN SHORT: The new leader of the country is setting up his stall, but there is no evidence to suggest that he has removed Mele Kyari from office. Read more »
May 16, 2023
Kenya: Kenyans Beware! Ignore Facebook Account Impersonating Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja, Promising Money and Gifts
It is unlikely that a public official of the Nairobi governor's stature would run promotions offering cash prizes on his official social media accounts. Johnson Sakaja has only one… Read more »
Kenya: No, Kenyan President William Ruto Hasn't Ordered Closure of Ai Chatbot ChatGPT, Online Graphic Is Fake
The artificial intelligence chatbot has taken the world by storm. But claims that Kenya's leader is so worried about its effect on students that he has banned it in the country are… Read more »
May 19, 2023
Kenya: Beware of Fake Facebook Account Running Promotions in the Name of Kenya's Nakuru County Woman Representative Liz Chelule
IN SHORT: Given the legislator's leadership position, many would be easily fooled if she were to offer promotions and loans. But this is a fake account. Read more »
June 09, 2023
South Africa: No Evidence South Africa's Governing Party Will 'Load Shed' Essential Social Grants in 2024
IN SHORT: South Africa's temporary Covid relief grant benefits about 10 million people, but will end in March 2024. But this doesn't mean all social grants, for old people,… Read more »