Claim: Former President John Dramani Mahama is distributing GH¢500 in campaign funds to Ghanaians
Source: WhatsApp message
Verdict: HOAX
Researched by Samuel Nii Adjetey
A post making the rounds on WhatsApp claims former President John Dramani Mahama is giving out Gh¢500 in campaign funds to Ghanaians.
The message encourages users to click a link, answer some questions and receive an instant payout. The post is accompanied by an alleged confirmation statement that “I just got mine” to prove the link’s legitimacy.
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A screengrab of the link in circulation
This fact-check report seeks to verify the authenticity of the claim being made.
Fact-Check
GhanaFact ran a step-by-step analysis of the website to test the process of seeking to qualify for the promised amount.
The website’s homepage opens with a welcome message: “Hello! Welcome John Dramani Mahama 500 GHS Campaign’s Funds For Ghanians, John Mahama is giving out 500 GHS to everyone in Ghana for president of Ghana the second time. Answer the questions below to claim 500 GHS Cash Prize.”
The first task is answering the question “Is John Mahama a good president?” Thereafter, another page opens requiring participants to choose their gender and fill in their age.
A screengrab of the webpage asking for further information
Upon completing the multiple-choice questions that follow, applicants are sent a congratulatory message and requested to share the link with friends and on WhatsApp groups. Then a bar provided beneath the page is expected to load fully before an applicant can claim the prize money.
A screengrab of the webpage after answering the four questions
To verify the authenticity of the link, GhanaFact ran it through virustotal.com, a security website that scans links and files for malicious codes. The scan classified the link as malicious and phishing.
Proofpoint.com defines phishing as “a common type of cyber attack that targets individuals through email, text messages, phone calls, and other forms of communication.
“A phishing attack aims to trick the recipient into falling for the attacker’s desired action, such as revealing financial information, system login credentials, or other sensitive information,” it adds.
Using WHOIS information of the domain (Inkshk.com/Get-500GHS) reveals that the website has the following details:
- Registered on December 4, 2023
- Updated on November 18, 2024
- Expiry in December 2024
The owners of the domain employed the services of privacyguardian.org to hide their original information: a usual modus operandi of malicious websites operators.
A screenshot of the original information about the phishing link
GhanaFact’s additional checks revealed that none of the official communication channels (social media and website) of both John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have posted information about the distribution of GHS 500 campaign funds.
In response to this phishing link, John Mahama posted a screenshot on his official Facebook page with a “FAKE!!” label written across it.
This clear dissociation from Mahama directly refutes the idea that his campaign is distributing any cash through such a link, urging the public to ignore the misleading information.
John Mahama dissociates himself from viral message
Verdict
The WhatsApp message claiming that former President John Mahama is giving money is a HOAX.
How to avoid being a victim of malicious links
- Avoid the Link: Refrain from clicking on malicious links or sharing with others.
- Stay Alert to Phishing Scams: Phishing attempts often present themselves as offers of financial aid, rewards, or prizes. Always verify the source of such claims through trusted channels before engaging.
- Report Suspicious Content: Flag suspicious links on social media to help prevent others from falling victim.
