{"id":7292,"date":"2021-01-06T16:23:48","date_gmt":"2021-01-06T15:23:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/?p=7292"},"modified":"2021-01-06T16:23:52","modified_gmt":"2021-01-06T15:23:52","slug":"fraud-alert-mtn-not-offering-customers-new-year-gift-reward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/fraud-alert-mtn-not-offering-customers-new-year-gift-reward\/","title":{"rendered":"Fraud Alert: MTN not offering customers new year gift reward"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Claim: A web-based message circulating via a  on WhatsApp claims MTN is offering a 2021 New year customer reward program.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/FiNKuqdOvN0auJNggqHAPih030gzTB_qA1683fQrp9fUleIYZrIUCxBDz0jDeOzocQ2Uqdyjslh37D4xXz3Eh4oPjXbpifIjXWVbTFVkDfWW6OvGqvGuGxbGPAn7gfcxwu-CInGN\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"132\" height=\"55\" data-attachment-id=\"7293\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/fraud-alert-mtn-not-offering-customers-new-year-gift-reward\/image-3-10\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/image-3.png?fit=132%2C55&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"132,55\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"image-3\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/image-3.png?fit=132%2C55&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/image-3.png?resize=132%2C55\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7293\" title=\"\"><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify has-text-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f41216;color:#fff9f9\"><strong>Verdict: the circulating on WhatsApp claiming to offer MTN 2021 New year customer reward program is false. It was confirmed by MTN to be fraudulent and deceptive.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Full text<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">A certain  circulating on WhatsApp claims to offer MTN 2021 New year Customer reward program. The  which is also a pathway to the acclaimed gift-offering  requires users to check if they have been selected for the Gifts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">The checking procedure requires customers to enter their phone numbers into a space provided to confirm whether they have been selected for the gift. The acclaimed gift includes 50,000 Naira cash for the first 5000 people; 100GB of data for 20000 users, and 10000 Naira worth of airtime for 100000 users. To access these gifts, users are required to click a green button with the WhatsApp insignia, then copy the  offered (the same one under scrutiny) and share it on 12 WhatsApp groups before finally getting the gifts.&nbsp; As a result, the  has been shared on WhatsApp over 6,789 times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/dM7_eYWWZgreQIRBjsW-JIIkfUmFieUFjMB7briMbfGY3z0rGLanNF_GDg8Cg7hkox4kcJi4t-i7llx53hRgBvMPWySjfiUpi55qkOmgknQFzeTwc2UQxffohG7IyWC2CAI6wp6u\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">However, in the past, DUBAWA has confirmed similar links offering related services to the public to be fraudulent and deceptive. Thus, the  is subjected to scrutiny to verify its authenticity and the services it claims to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Verification<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Dubawa first contacted MTN Nigeria Customer Service via a phone call to confirm the authenticity of the  and the services it claimed to offer. In response, Saleh Reheema, MTN Customer Service representative said the  in question is fraudulent, only posing as MTN to deceive unsuspecting members of the society.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;People should desist from this link because MTN is currently not offering such services at the moment. This is apparently fraudulent and deceptive,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, one major inconsistency traced within the website raised even more red flags. The  claimed that the gifts are only meant for 2,400 selected customers, yet on the same page it&#8217;s advertised that &nbsp; &#8220;50,000 naira cash for the first 5,000 people; 100GB of data for 2,0000 users, and 10,000 Naira worth of airtime for 100,000 users.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/KY6tJQnhwFdAGfWCyyOri-ZgAEPN5M_mpytUkYOxP9yzMvUNFQGoIAz9iy2vz3a2TK0pVaqT3GMAbL_ZXXn31RuBsev7JOAP1qdphIVdvNie3gFLtPLQ-tq-NcaQt3Pp0t7ehFQ9\" width=\"602\" height=\"317\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><strong><em>Highlighted in the blue inscription where it was written: &#8220;enter your number to check if you are among the 2,400 customers selected to receive the award&#8221;&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/gnK2YbhPxy0xLRoZ687drstMWlDd-j2Qkxp-T26plCIr9RuitodT_9JlTmj3YkxROtFojHOkG5Ce1AWbu2vGX7m--1o9_304X1bs6Xwfh8Yh8ckhftE337tttv83Guv0ugfq1g_K\" width=\"602\" height=\"339\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><strong><em>Also on the same page where the same gifts are pledged for 5000, 20,000, and 100,000 customers<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Similarly, when the website  was accessed on Scamdoc, the tool gave it a very bad trust score of 1%, implying that the link was recent and known for being used for fraudulent activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/VcHlavNSiutxwIc0BjHBl4StSiyVyvsFSOIjOYT5JDf5MrPHXyiAAkZr-6ljHgI3ntavlDCfcahTeMPDIozio19KpPayyTc7IusHTJtXSza2mqhiXAQ_pfSwkUbxGYE234l8ZL9Y\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Also, we uncovered the link in question to be a data <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberticle.com.ng\/phishing-thread\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">phishing<\/a> website. Such sites are usually riddled with installed root pop-up ads that generate traffic through fraudulent schemes; worse still, they engage in the extraction of users\u2019 data and financial details for nefarious purposes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">The information circulating about MTN offering gifts to customers is fraudulent and deceptive. The website is riddled with multiple red flags and inconsistencies including MTN\u2019s&nbsp; confirmation obtained that the claim is deceitful.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Claim: A web-based message circulating via a on WhatsApp claims MTN is offering a 2021 New year customer reward program. Verdict: the circulating on WhatsApp claiming to offer MTN 2021 New year customer reward program is false. It was confirmed by MTN to be fraudulent and deceptive. Full text A certain circulating on WhatsApp claims to offer MTN 2021 New year Customer reward program. The which is also a pathway to the acclaimed gift-offering requires users to check if they have been selected for the Gifts.&nbsp; The checking procedure requires customers to enter their phone numbers into a space provided to confirm whether they have been selected for the gift. The acclaimed gift includes 50,000 Naira cash for the first 5000 people; 100GB of data for 20000 users, and 10000 Naira worth of airtime for 100000 users. To access these gifts, users are required to click a green button with the WhatsApp insignia, then copy the offered (the same one under scrutiny) and share it on 12 WhatsApp groups before finally getting the gifts.&nbsp; As a result, the has been shared on WhatsApp over 6,789 times. However, in the past, DUBAWA has confirmed similar links offering related services to the public to be fraudulent and deceptive. Thus, the is subjected to scrutiny to verify its authenticity and the services it claims to offer. Verification&nbsp; Dubawa first contacted MTN Nigeria Customer Service via a phone call to confirm the authenticity of the and the services it claimed to offer. In response, Saleh Reheema, MTN Customer Service representative said the in question is fraudulent, only posing as MTN to deceive unsuspecting members of the society.&nbsp; &#8220;People should desist from this link because MTN is currently not offering such services at the moment. This is apparently fraudulent and deceptive,&#8221; she said. Furthermore, one major inconsistency traced within the website raised even more red flags. The claimed that the gifts are only meant for 2,400 selected customers, yet on the same page it&#8217;s advertised that &nbsp; &#8220;50,000 naira cash for the first 5,000 people; 100GB of data for 2,0000 users, and 10,000 Naira worth of airtime for 100,000 users.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Highlighted in the blue inscription where it was written: &#8220;enter your number to check if you are among the 2,400 customers selected to receive the award&#8221;&nbsp; Also on the same page where the same gifts are pledged for 5000, 20,000, and 100,000 customers Similarly, when the website was accessed on Scamdoc, the tool gave it a very bad trust score of 1%, implying that the link was recent and known for being used for fraudulent activities. Also, we uncovered the link in question to be a data phishing website. Such sites are usually riddled with installed root pop-up ads that generate traffic through fraudulent schemes; worse still, they engage in the extraction of users\u2019 data and financial details for nefarious purposes.&nbsp; Conclusion&nbsp; The information circulating about MTN offering gifts to customers is fraudulent and deceptive. The website is riddled with multiple red flags and inconsistencies including MTN\u2019s&nbsp; confirmation obtained that the claim is deceitful.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7294,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"hannibal_claim_source":"","hannibal_source_label":"","hannibal_card_color":"blue","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_bluesky_share_type":"","_mastodon_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[1571],"tags":[1307,1747,1278],"verdict":[],"ppma_author":[1088],"class_list":["post-7292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fact-check","tag-fraud","tag-gift-reward","tag-mtn"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8R6dE-1TC","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":1088,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"cap-silas-jonathan","display_name":"Silas Jonathan","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&r=g","author_category":"","user_url":"","last_name":"","first_name":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/fraud.png?fit=1200%2C700&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7292"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7292\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7292"},{"taxonomy":"verdict","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/verdict?post=7292"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=7292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}