Africa: Don't Be Scammed! World Food Programme Isn't Offering Cash Assistance Via This Dubious Website

14 June 2024
Africa Check (Johannesburg)
By Semilore Adelola

Don't be scammed! World Food Programme isn't offering cash assistance via this dubious website

IN SHORT: Several Facebook and WhatsApp users claim that the World Food Programme is providing cash assistance to the poor. But they link to a suspicious-looking website.

A message doing the rounds on WhatsApp and Facebook encourages users to apply for cash assistance from the World Food Programme (WFP).

The message is accompanied by a link where users can supposedly apply for the assistance, and reads: "World Food Programme - Provide cash assistance. Tackling poverty with cash assistance for all."

As part of the United Nations, the WFP is a humanitarian organisation that provides food to people in emergencies such as conflicts and natural disasters.

The message can also be found here, here and here. (Note: See more instances listed at the end of this report.)

But is the organisation giving out cash assistance through this link? We checked.

Beware of malicious website

Although the WFP provides cash assistance to people in need, beneficiaries must be registered on its SCOPE platform.

We clicked on the link in the WhatsApp message and it led to a site operating under the disguise of the organisation.

The home page reads: "Congratulations! Through the questionnaire, you will have a chance to get ₦366,760.00."

After filling in our details, such as name and age, we were congratulated and told that we would receive the money within five to seven days. But there was a catch: we had to share the link with five groups or 20 friends on WhatsApp.

We managed to proceed without sharing the link and were directed to a website prompting us to spin a wheel for a chance to win cash.

This is a tactic known as engagement bait. The more users interact with the post - whether by liking, sharing, commenting or clicking on the attached link - the greater its reach. Unfortunately, this not only drives traffic to the malicious site, but can also allow fraudsters to steal your personal and banking information.

To protect yourself, read our guide to Facebook scams and how to spot them.

The same claim can be found here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

Read the original story, with links and other resources.
Africa Check is a non-partisan organisation which promotes accuracy in public debate and in the media. Twitter @AfricaCheck and www.africacheck.org

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