Tag Archives: fake

Hundreds of people across the UK have shared hoax appeals for information about a supposedly missing five-year-old named Bella Heather. 

Full Fact has seen examples of the posts in Doncaster (South Yorkshire), Whaley Bridge (Derbyshire), Hastings (East Sussex), Longton (Staffordshire), Dumfries and Galloway, Silsden (West Yorkshire), Wrexham, Stockport (Greater Manchester), Dewsbury (West Yorkshire) and Otley (West Yorkshire). 

All of the posts have very similar text, which says: “My niece Bella Heather she’s 5years old has been missing for 7hours. She was last seen playing with her pup on our pourch [sic] in #doncaster [or relevant location].

“An amber alert has been activated. Please keep our sweet girl in your prayers and thoughts help bump this post. She…

Renowned Australian computer scientist and entrepreneur Craig Wright, who controversially claims to be the enigmatic Satoshi Nakamoto, has unveiled groundbreaking insights into the future trajectory of the world’s pioneering cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC).

Wright, referencing the seminal Bitcoin whitepaper released in 2008, offered significant prognostications that could potentially redefine the way BTC operates on a broader scale.

The self-proclaimed Nakamoto asserted that the forthcoming stages of Bitcoin’s evolution would witness a paradigm shift in the roles of network participants. The scientist outlined a vision where the initial dominance of individual users…

SoftBank seeks to sue a social app it had once invested in, IRL at a $1.1 billion valuation.

It is suing the now-defunct company for fraud, alleging $150 million in damages.

Background

IRL had the potential to become an event organizing alternative for Gen Z, who are using Facebook less and less.

It sought to materialize on this and its self-reported numbers were impressive enough to earn a $170 million Series C funding led by SoftBank in 2021.

However, earlier this summer, an internal investigation by its own board of directors found that 95% of the app’s users were fake.

False user download claims

SoftBank explains that it was encouraged to invest due to its impressive user numbers.

The app claimed it had been downloaded by 25% of U.S. teens under 28 years old and was growing at…

Thousands of people have shared a Facebook post claiming that social media users who share and comment on it could win a luxury motorhome. 

Alongside more than 30 pictures of the vehicle supposedly involved, the post says: “Due to having a few small dents and scratches we have been unable to sell this Supreme Aire 4051 in our showroom, rather than flog it as second hand we have decided to bring some joy by giving it to someone who has Shared then commented winner will be selected in July Delivery should be within 2 weeks.. [sic]”

But there is no evidence to suggest this offer is genuine, and the company selling the pictured motorhome have confirmed the vehicle is not involved in any giveaway.

The post uses near-identical language to other very similar fake…

Posts on Facebook are claiming to be offering PlayStation 5 consoles for less than £2 from Argos. But the offers are not genuine. 

One of the posts appears on a Facebook page with only three followers and claims the consoles were used in “demo presentations”. The other fake offer is posted by a page that has 27 followers and claims the consoles were formerly used at “trade shows”.  

Both posts show photos of PlayStation 5 boxes in a store with an Argos sign advertising the consoles for £1.78. 

A spokesperson for Argos told Full Fact that: “These are not genuine offers.

One of the posts says: “Click the button and visit our website to order”. But the link goes to a webpage that looks like Argos but doesn’t have the official Argos web address and…