Claim: A Facebook user, Awoodah Osha Nation, claims that a Catholic Charity support fund is giving Nigerians ₦60,000.
Verdict: False. The claim that a Catholic Charity Support Fund gives Nigerians ₦60,000 is false. The link provided is a phishing site designed to collect personal and financial information under the guise of a charitable initiative.
Full Text
A Facebook page, Awoodah Osha Nation, posted on Dec. 15, 2024, that the CATHOLIC CHARITY SUPPORT FUND is giving out “₦60,000 FOR ALL NIGERIANS.” According to the post, the initiative is due to the country’s poverty level. The post included a link to access the application.
The post reads in part, “₦60,000 CATHOLIC CHARITY SUPPORT FUND FOR ALL NIGERIANS IS ONGOING due to Nigeria’s high poverty. The Catholic Church has urged the Catholic Relief Service to open the CATHOLIC CHARITY SUPPORT scheme. Every Nigerian, whether a Catholic member or not, is entitled to receive the sum of ₦60,000 for 6 months. Are You A Nigerian Apply Now For The ₦60,000 CATHOLIC CHARITY SUPPORT Cash Transfer. *APPLY NOW* https://tr.ee/Catholic-Charity-Support-Fund. N.B: SHARE WITH OTHER NIGERIANS AND LET THEM ALL BENEFIT FROM THE *CATHOLIC CHARITY SUPPORT.”
DUBAWA discovered that the same post has been shared multiple times on WhatsApp and by a blog, Blogger.com.
Due to the virality of the claim and its potential to mislead and financially scam individuals, DUBAWA decided to fact-check it.
Verification
DUBAWA clicked on the link and was asked to provide personal details such as name, phone number, and email.
Without filling in the required details, DUBAWA could move to the second page, which asks for the account details to be validated.
“Your Application for the ongoing ₦60,000 CATHOLIC SUPPORT FUND FOR ALL NIGERIANS Is now in process. Kindly Validate Your Bank Account Number to proceed to the next step. Note! Applicants Must Be Nigerians By Birth.”
When DUBAWA clicked on the second page without filling in the required details of the account number and account name, DUBAWA could not log in until incorrect details were entered.
Typical of every phishing site, the last step was a congratulatory message asking DUBWA to share the link with five people on WhatsApp.
DUBAWA also discovered that the Nigeria Catholic Network had debunked the claim. In a post on its official website, the association wrote, “It has come to our notice that unauthorised individuals or organisations are falsely using the “Catholic Relief Service” name and the Catholic Church to peddle a scam CATHOLIC CHARITY SUPPORT scheme. We strongly advise the public not to broadcast such false claims on WhatsApp and social media and not to click on any fraudulent links to avoid falling victim to phishing scams.”
Conclusion
The claim that the Catholic Charity Support Fund gives Nigerians ₦60,000 is false. The link provided is a phishing site designed to collect personal and financial information under the guise of a charitable initiative. Such schemes exploit people’s trust and vulnerability, using fake promises to spread malicious links.