{"id":14768,"date":"2025-03-15T10:36:01","date_gmt":"2025-03-15T10:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/?p=14768"},"modified":"2025-03-15T10:45:24","modified_gmt":"2025-03-15T10:45:24","slug":"clarification-of-ramadan-scams-shared-on-social-media-en","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/clarification-of-ramadan-scams-shared-on-social-media-en\/","title":{"rendered":"Fake Social Media Posts Claiming to Offer Ramadan 2025 Relief\u00a0 Packages"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This year, the Ramadan season is scheduled to begin on March 1st<\/sup> and last until the end of March, and accordingly, this is the fasting season of Ramadan, also known as the month of giving. Muslims spend this Ramadan period according to their religious beliefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ramadan is a very special time for Muslims, and misleading fake claims centered around this festive season have been circulating on social media. We conducted a fact check on those fake messages based on requests we received to conduct a fact-check regarding such fake claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social media posts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A social media post was circulating on WhatsApp stating that a relief package would be provided for the 2025 Ramadan season, which would be available for all the Muslims around the world. A link was also shared with it stating that they should register for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The same message was shared through Facebook as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fb<\/a> | Archive<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since many people inquired about this, we conducted a fact- check on this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fack-Check:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We first investigated whether the government or a recognized institution had implemented a program to provide essential food items to the Muslim community for the Ramadan season, but we did not find any such report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Especially, if the government has launched such  program, it is informed to the public through media reports. However, we could not see any such media reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If such a massive program is implemented on a global level for the entire Muslim community, it will definitely be reported in foreign media with relevant information. However, during our investigation, we didn\u2019t find any such foreign reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, we inquired the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) council for further confirmation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama council confirmed that the news circulating stating that relief packages will be given to the Muslim community worldwide is fake. They told us that there is no relief package being provided for the Muslim population of the world through a single official program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also stated that if any such relief packages are distributed, it will not be provided by obtaining information through various links in social media, but through a trusted and a proper method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also inquired the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs regarding this matter, and the department also stated that they were not aware of any government relief program being implemented for Ramadan or any such global program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our further investigation revealed that this same message has also been circulating in India. Cybercrime officers in Hyderabad have warned the public that those links are fake and not to fall for scammers who state that they are offering free Ramadan rations. You can refer to that news <\/strong>here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We further checked the link provided with this message and it was confirmed that the link is not from any official organization. Although the links are officially recognized if they are from a country or an official organization, this appears to be fake link. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, the information requested through the link are name, phone number, country, region etc. Usually if such relief packages are officially provided to Muslim people around the world, it is done through a systematic program initiated by the government or official institution of the relevant country. Such formal relief packages could not be provided with such a small amount of personal information, and it is also not practical to do so through such a link. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If an institution launches such a program, it will be made available to apply through the official website of the relevant institution, or through an official online system, and not through informal social media posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Therefore, it is your responsibility to be aware of and cautious about various groups that often attempt to obtain your personal information through fake links during  festive seasons and special days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We inquired the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team regarding this and they mentioned that this is a scam and the personal information of people are stolen through such unverified links. Therefore, people should be careful in this regard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are relief packaged being provided to people in other countries around the world for Ramadan?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our further investigation revealed that Pakistan\u2019s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif<\/a> has planned to provide Rs. 10,000 in cash to 4 million low-income families for Ramadan in 2025, as well as subsidies for essential food items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been stated that the packages will be provided to eligible families and that they can register for it under the country\u2019s Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) or Ehsaas program. For people to be eligible for this they should not receive any financial assistance from any other government relief program, and should have a valid Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a program that is provided entirely to low-income families in Pakistan and is not implemented globally.<\/strong> The method of application is fully informed and implemented by the Pakistani government through an official announcement. You can view more information regarding this program form here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another program is implemented in Lebanon by the FoodBlessed\u2019s food assistance. Through that they provide healthy iftar meals and food parcels to needy and vulnerable fasting families in Lebanon, regardless of their nationality, color, race or gender. However, this is also not implemented globally. You can refer to that here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us to learn more about our investigative fact findings.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facebook<\/strong><\/a> | <\/strong>Twitter<\/strong><\/a> | <\/strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/a> | <\/strong>Google News<\/strong><\/a> | <\/strong>TikTok<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our investigation shows that the message, which claims to be providing essential food as relief packages to Muslims around the world for the Ramadan season, and contains a link to register is fake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These fake link messages, usually centered around special days and festivals, are called SCAMs, and they always tell you to click on the link to receive free data, gifts, etc. Through that link you are asked to fill certain information and thus your data will be meticulously obtained. Therefore, we request you to refrain from clicking on unverified links shared with fraudulent purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also urge you to be careful before sharing such information with others and not to be fooled by such false information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t