July 11, 2023
Africa: 'African Migrant' or 'Refugee' Attacks Woman and Child in France? No, Suspect a French Citizen
IN SHORT: Footage of a violent assault in Bordeaux, France is distressing. But the alleged assailant was born in and is a citizen of the country. His family has said they were… Read more »
Africa: Clip of Titan Sub's Final Voyage? No, Vessel Never Reached Titanic and No Video Recovered
IN SHORT: Global news events tend to attract false information. Claims that a video on social media shows the Titan submersible before it imploded, are untrue. Read more »
Africa: Can a Home Pregnancy Test Show Signs of Testicular Cancer in Men? Not All Cancers, Seek Professional Diagnosis
IN SHORT: A claim that a positive home pregnancy test in men could indicate signs of testicular cancer is true. However, it's important to be aware that a negative pregnancy test… Read more »
Nigeria: No, Nigerian President Not Giving Away Money Through 'Tinubu Empowerment Fund'
IN SHORT: President Bola Tinubu may have plans to empower young people in Nigeria, but claims that he's giving away thousands of naira are false. Read more »
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 07, 2023
Africa: No, Molasses or Soursop With Baking Soda Won't Cure Stage Four Cancer
Cancer claims millions of lives across the world, according to the World Health Organization. But at stage four, these combinations of baking soda and molasses or soursop leaf… Read more »
Nigeria: Scam Alert! Ignore Facebook Posts Promoting Cash Chain Investment Platform, Offering Huge Returns in Nigeria
IN SHORT: Facebook posts promoting Cash Chain investment and its 'wonderful' benefits are out to scam you. Do not fall for promises of huge and quick returns. Read more »
South Africa: Are There 15 Million Undocumented Immigrants in South Africa? No, Another ActionSA Party Member Repeats Old, Incorrect Claim
The claim that there are "15 million undocumented immigrants" in South Africa has been debunked several times. It is back on Twitter in July 2023, almost three years after it made… 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 30, 2023
Kenya: Kenya At 60 - Fact-Checking Six Claims By President William Ruto, Including On Election Results and Jobs
As the president nears a year in office, he has been keen to emphasise the social and economic challenges facing his administration. Read more »
June 28, 2023
Kenya: Kenyans, Beware of Facebook Account Impersonating Politician Moses Kuria
IN SHORT: Many fake Facebook accounts use names of high-profile figures such as politicians. And here Kenyan cabinet secretary Moses Kuria's name is being used to post political… Read more »
Nigeria: Scam Alert! Ignore Fake Channels Television Facebook Account Asking You to Invest
Bold Gains investment platform shows no signs of being trustworthy, despite claims made online. This time the platform is being promoted by yet another scam Facebook account,… Read more »
Africa: No Evidence That COVID -19 Vaccines Trigger Multiple Sclerosis
Researchers have found no links between Covid-19 vaccines and multiple sclerosis. Misinformation and disinformation around Covid-19 and vaccines have been doing the rounds on… Read more »
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
Kenya: Did Kenyan Opposition Leaders Split Over Controversial Finance Law, As Claimed Online? No, Kalonzo Musyoka Misquoted in Graphic
IN SHORT: It's claimed that Wiper Party leader Musyoka said a controversial funding bill must be passed by the end of June 2023, signalling his support for it. His office has… Read more »
Nigeria: No, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu Didn't Fall During a Tour of the New National Security Adviser Office in Abuja
IN SHORT: A claim that the president fell during a tour of the new national security adviser office is false. Even the video posted alongside this claim does not show him stumbling… Read more »
Kenya: No, Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta Did Not Call His Successor William Ruto a 'Conman' and 'Liar' After Ruto's 2023 National Day Speech
IN SHORT: A widely shared TikTok video appears to show that former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta called his successor William Ruto a "liar" and "a conman" for certain promises.… Read more »
Africa: Facebook User Impersonating Dubai Prince Is Out to Scam With Fake Jobs
IN SHORT: Africa Check has investigated many malicious schemes offering fake jobs. This is yet another one, impersonating a Dubai prince on Facebook. Read more »
Nigeria: Scam Alert! Beware of Facebook Account Impersonating UBA Bank to Offer Fake Loans
IN SHORT: Africa Check has debunked several fake loan schemes on Facebook. This is yet another one impersonating UBA to offer fake loans to Nigerians. Read more »
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 »
Nigeria: No, This Photo Doesn't Show Pre-Colonial Igbo Architecture in Southeast Nigeria
IN SHORT: The claim that this is a photo of "pre-colonial" Igbo architecture in Nigeria is false. It actually shows the palace of Foumban in Cameroon in 1907. Read more »
Nigeria: Nigerians, Beware! These Shady Facebook Accounts Using Photos of Sick People Are Out to Scam You
IN SHORT: Africa Check has debunked several Facebook accounts trying to scam people. What we found here are shady accounts using pictures of ailing individuals to scam Nigerians on… Read more »
Africa: 'Earthing' Not Yet All It's Cracked Up to Be - More Independent Research With Large Samples Needed On the Effects of Walking Barefoot and 'Grounding'
IN SHORT: Walking barefoot and "being in touch with Mother Nature" might have its benefits. But there is little scientific evidence that the concept of "earthing" can heal various… Read more »
June 23, 2023
Nigeria: Beware of Scammers Impersonating Lottery Platform Zoom Lifestyle On Facebook
IN SHORT: Africa Check has investigated many fake money-making schemes. This Facebook account impersonating popular Nigerian musician Peter Okoye's lottery platform is yet another… Read more »