Fact Check: Beware! Free 50GB internet bundle bait is scam
Social media users claim that WhatsApp is giving a 50GB internet bundle for free to users.
By Sabya Singh Published on 19 March 2022 12:00 PM GMT
Hyderabad: Social media users claim that WhatsApp is giving a 50GB internet bundle for free to users.
The free data is meant to celebrate WhatsApp's 10th anniversary. Users claim the offer is valid till March 19, 2022.
NewsMeter received the link on WhatsApp to verify it.
Fact Check
The claim is false.
NewsMeter opened the link, which leads to a new page notifying applicants about winning the free data bundle. Next, it asks the users to enter their mobile numbers.
But even though the data bundle is not debited to their phones, the instructions require them to share a message that they have won to 20 friends or 5 groups via a WhatsApp button on the page, failure to which they will not receive the prize.
The message template to be shared states that the free internet bundles are valid for 3 months. The message also includes what looks like a testimonial by the participant stating that they have received the free data, asking the recipient to share the message before the data on offer was exhausted.
WhatsApp's Facebook and Twitter handles do not have the information on the free internet offer either.
A WHOIS search of the legitimate WhatsApp website shows that it was registered on September 4, 2008.
A WHOIS search of the impostor site shows that it was registered on December 10, 2019.
https://www.whois.com/whois/
Scammers use tactics similar to those on the website in question to carry out click fraud, a common scheme that relies on luring users to bogus websites with the promise of getting a reward. Those who fall prey to these click baits are also urged to share them with more people, which ultimately bring revenues to the operators of the fake offers, advertisements, or campaigns.
https://www.welivesecurity.
Hence, the claim is false.
