FACT CHECK: Viral message about student laptop scheme is fake
A WhatsApp message with the claim that the application for the Students Laptop Scheme 2021/22 is available, is widely being shared on messaging app.
By Shimron Diana Published on 1 Nov 2021 11:34 AM IST
Hyderabad: A WhatsApp message with the claim that the application for the Students Laptop Scheme 2021/22 is available, is widely being shared on messaging app.
"This scheme is open to all students who for financial reasons are not in a position to purchase a laptop of their own and are in need of a laptop in their level of educationā¦ Register and apply here," reads the message.
(Find the image of the virally circulated message here)
Fact Check:
The virally circulated message is False as the link attached with the message is fraud. The link is designed to steal users data and earn money by sharing it with a third-party advertising company.
Firstly, News Meter on conducting Keyword came across an article by techspecsmart.com which states, "You can see this message uses a link. When you click on it, you will be redirected to its original URL but that is not genuine. You should not trust it. Because such type of fake website uses cheap domain like .xyz or .online etc. to lure people. They also use a free subdomain like .blogspot.com etc."
This is the first hint that the website link provided in the virally circulated message is a third-party website.
(Find the link to the article by techspecsmart.com here)
Secondly, when we clicked the link provided with the message, it led us to a page that solely asks for users information and doesn't contain any other page such as home, contact us, organization name, initiative information, etc. It is solely restricted to mobile view. If we try clicking the link, access to the website is denied.
(Find the screenshot of the page here)
Thirdly, we also came across a YouTube video that has a recording of the process of registration.
(Find the link to the YouTube video here)
Conclusion: Hence the virally circulated message is false. The link attached with the message is fraud. The link is designed to collect users data and earn money by sharing it with a third-party advertising company.
