Did Israel just kill 1,800 Hezbollah militants in Lebanon using exploding goats?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Israel kills 1,800 Hezbollah militants with exploding goats!
People are sharing a video which purportedly shows CNN anchor Jake Tapper reporting that Israel just killed 1,800 Hezbollah militants in Lebanon using exploding goats!
Shashank S Tripathi : BREAKING NEWS: First pager then radio and now Goat.
Explosions in #Lebanon reported allegedly caused by Israel , involved of goats rigged with explosives, leading to the deaths and injuries of several #Hezbollah members.
Praveen Kumar : BREAKING NEWS: Mass #Hezbollah Casualties Reported After Goats Explode.
#Mossad is everywhere to eliminate Terrorists around the #lebnan
Kimberly Reich : Shocking! : Mass Hezbollah Casualties Reported After Goats Explode 🇮🇱✡️
Mihir Jha : Is this true? 😮 Rectums of Goats exploding in Lebanon Kill!πg hundreds of Hezbollah fighters – This is a blasphemy act by Israel
Mr. Nationalist : 🚨 BREAKING NEWS: Mass Hezbollah casualties reported after goats explode in Lebanon. Hamas and Hezbollah are in shock now! 😲
Vekho P Ringa : From pagers to walkie-talkies, and now even goats? #Hezbollah situation now 🥸
ValluvaNayanar : BREAKING NEWS: Mass Hezbollah Casualties Reported After Goats Explode.
Truth : Israel did not kill any Hezbollah militant with exploding goats!
This appears to be yet another example of fake news circulating around the Hezbollah pager + walkie-talkie explosions, and here are the reasons why…
It was a parody video
Soon after news broke that Israel killed dozens of people and injured thousands more using exploding pagers and walkie-talkies used by members of Hezbollah, some people started making memes and joke videos.
The video that people are sharing as “evidence” that Israel killed even more Hezbollah militants using exploding goats is actually a parody video (archive) created by Danny Polishchuk – a comedian with the X account @dannyjokes.
To be clear – Israel did not kill or injure anyone by inserting explosives into the rectums of goats, so that they would explode when someone has sexual relations with the goats. It was a joke.
He used an AI app (archive) to make the deepfake video of CNN anchor Jake Tapper saying that Israel killed another 1,800 people using exploding goats, before inserting himself into the video as a CNN journalist reporting on the incident.
Funny part about this is the AI app I used wouldn’t let me use Anderson Cooper because he’s a celebrity but didn’t consider Jake Tapper one
Frankly, even if the joke was not readily apparent, the static chyron and clock should be a giveaway that it was not a genuine CNN video.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Microsoft has confirmed that Russia is responsible for the fake story about Kamala Harris paralysing a 13 year-old girl in a hit-and-run accident! Here is what you need to know…
Fake Kamala Harris hit-and-run story : A quick primer!
Earlier this month, a video went viral on social media, showing a young Black woman on a wheelchair claiming that Vice President Kamala Harris left her paralysed in a 2011 hit-and-run accident in San Francisco.
The alleged victim, who was alternatively called Alisha Brown / Alicia Brown, said that she “cannot remain silent anymore“, and lamented that her childhood “ended too soon“.
The video by KBSF-TV showed the shattered windshield of the alleged vehicle used by Kamala Harris in that hit-and-run accident, as well as X-ray images of the alleged victim.
As I covered in my fact check article, the story was fabricated. Kamala Harris was not involved in a hit-and-run accident in 2011 in San Francisco, that left a girl paralysed.
Microsoft: Russia behind fake Kamala Harris hit-and-run story!
On Tuesday, 17 September 2024, the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center issued a report identifying Russia as being responsible for the fake story about Kamala Harris paralysing a 13 year-old girl in a hit-and-run accident!
According to its latest threat assessment report, Microsoft said that the fake Kamala Harris hit-and-run story was created by a covert Russian disinformation team known as Storm-1516 (also known as CopyCop).
While some people have suggested that the young Black woman was AI-generated, Microsoft said that Storm-1516 paid an actor to play the part of the alleged victim. The fake story was disseminated through a fake website for a non-existent San Francisco news outlet called KBSF-TV, that was created just a week earlier.
Clint Watts, general manager of the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center said in an ABC News interview that Microsoft has been tracking the use of AI by nation states for more than a year and while foreign actors tried AI initially, many have gone back to basics as they’ve realized AI was “probably more time-consuming and not more effective.”
The Microsoft report also highlighted a second video created and spread by Storm-1516 / CopyCop, which showed two Black men beating up a bloodied white woman at a Donald Trump rally.
Microsoft explained how Russian intelligence actors struggled initially to adapt to President Joe Biden dropping out of the race, but have now started serious attacks to discredit Kamala Harris and stoke controversy around her campaign.
A newer Russian group called Storm-1679 has allegedly pivoted from producing content about the 2024 Paris Olympic Games to publishing false videos designed to discredit Vice President Kamala Harris. One of the videos featured a fake New York City billboard showing false claims about her policies.
Microsoft warned that Russian actors will continue use cyber proxies and hacktivist groups to spread allegedly hacked or leaked materials to undermine confidence in the US Presidential election outcome.
When asked about Russia’s motivation behind these fake videos, Watts said the Russia-aligned groups Microsoft tracks may not necessarily support particular candidates, but they are motivated to undermine anyone who “is supporting Ukraine in their policy.”
Vice President Kamala Harris has publicly vowed to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion if elected as President. On the other hand, Donald Trump has repeatedly refused to say whether he wants Ukraine to win the war, only saying that “I want the war to stop“.
This Microsoft report comes after the Biden Administration seized Kremlin-run websites and charged two Russian state media employees in an alleged scheme to secretly fund a network of right-wing American influencers to influence the 2024 Presidential election.
Ultimately, this is yet another example of political fake news surrounding the upcoming 2024 US Presidential election. Here are some other examples I fact checked recently:
As the 2024 US Presidential election draws close, you can expect more of such fake news and/or fake videos to appear, so be wary and skeptical!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Is Bill Gates planning to embed a Digital ID under the skin of every child in the world by 2025?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Bill Gates is embedding Digital ID in kids by 2025!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that Bill Gates is planning to embed a Digital ID under the skin of every child in the world by 2025, with or without parental consent!
Here is an excerpt of the (intentionally?) rambling and confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Gates Insider: Digital ID Will Be Embedded Under the Skin of Every Child by 2025
Globalist billionaire Bill Gates has begun rolling out Digital IDs that will be embedded under the skin of every child in the world – with or without parental consent.
Globalist billionaire Bill Gates is demanding world governments follow the lead of the European Union and India and approve his “global digital ID” system which has inbuilt features designed to exclude people from participating in society if they do not comply with the globalist agenda.
Gates’ plan to punish and exclude people who do not comply with globalist authoritarian rules can only work if everybody in society is using his global digital ID.
That’s why he is planning to embed the digital ID under the skin of every child in the world born in 2025 to ensure the future global society is 100% compliant with globalist goals.
For those who doubt that Gates and the elite would go this far, it’s time to wake up because the plan to microchip every child under the sun with digital ID has already begun.
The elite are making their move and rolling out the digital identification phase of this dystopian plan in almost every WEF-infiltrated nation.
Just like the EU, Canada, and Australia, the UK has announced plans to require all residents in the UK to enroll in Bill Gates’ digital ID system if they wish to continue participating in society.
The Gates Foundation welcomed the news by pumping $4 million into the digital public infrastructure (DPI) scheme, which will oversee the practical implantation of the mandatory IDs in Britain.
Truth : Bill Gates is not embedding Digital ID in kids by 2025!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Bill Gates is not embedding Digital ID in children
Let me start by simply pointing out that Bill Gates is not rolling out Digital IDs that will be embedded under the skin of every child in the world, with or without parental consent.
If that actually happened, such a shocking news would have been widely reported by the mainstream media all over the world. It would also have resulted in mass outrage. Yet, none of that happened, because it was all made up!
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article itself did not provide any evidence to back up its claim.
Fact #2 : Bill Gates did not create “global digital ID”
Bill Gates also did not create any “global digital ID”, much less demand that world governments use such a system.
Needless to say, The People’s Voice article itself did not provide any evidence to back up its claim. In fact, it actually provided evidence to the contrary – that different countries are implementing their own digital ID, instead of a “global digital ID”.
Fact #3 : Digital ID helps authenticate your identity online
A digital ID isn’t some nefarious way to get you to comply with the government. It is merely an electronic representation of your identity that is used to prove who you are online.
Currently, governments and companies are using emails, and phone numbers, to determine someone’s identity online. However, using emails / phone numbers and passwords is not a reliable way to prove your identity as such logins can be stolen, or used by multiple people.
A digital ID would offer a convenient and secure way to authenticate your identity, allowing you to safely access online services, and prevent identity theft.
For example, scammers and hackers can steal the login to your bank account, but you can remove that vulnerability by using a digital ID (instead of a username and password) to authenticate your identity.
Fact #4 : Digital ID is usually just a mobile app
A digital ID can take many forms. In its most basic form, it can be a digital version of existing credentials that are used to authenticate the identity of a person – like a physical identity card, a driving licence, or a passport.
Many countries though are opting for a Digital ID app that can be installed on a smartphone, and used to authenticate your identity online, or even offline. Such a Digital ID app will often include the person’s physical credentials like a driving licence, or a health services card.
Needless to say – it is just silly to embed digital IDs under anyone’s skin. Why go to that trouble, when you can simply install it as an app on your phone??? And how would you update the digital ID if it’s embedded under your skin???
Yet again, The People’s Voice article itself did not provide any evidence to back up its claim that any government plans to embed a Digital ID under the skin of kids.
Currently, there are no mandatory digital IDs in the world. That’s because not everyone has a smartphone, and the digital infrastructure do not currently extend to all parts of the world, or any country for the matter.
Countries that implement Digital IDs still accept physical forms of identification, like a national identity card, a driving licence, or a passport.
Fact #6 : It’s pointless to embed children with Digital ID
Even if you actually believe in a nefarious plot to implant people with a Digital ID microchip, it is silly to only do so for children.
For one thing – children are not even allowed to undertake services that would require digital IDs, like opening a bank account, applying for a credit card or a loan, buying a home, paying taxes, etc.
But claiming that evil corporations or governments are trying to microchip your kids is a great way to trigger outrage, and/or get people to share fake news about digital IDs.
Fact #7 : The People’s Voice is known for fake news
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should think twice about sharing anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
MCMC has ordered ISPs in Malaysia to implement DNS redirection for businesses, enterprises, and government agencies! Here is what you need to know…
Malaysia orders DNS redirection for business and government!
According to an FAQ posted by Maxis, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has ordered all Internet service providers in Malaysia to implement DNS redirection for businesses, governments, and enterprises by 30 September 2024.
The Maxis FAQ, which is titled Maxis Business DNS Redirection, states that this directive by MCMC is meant to “protect users from harmful or illegal online content” by blocking access to “websites involved in online gambling, pornography, copyright violations, scams, and other illegal activities.”
Here is a quick primer on what DNS redirection would mean for Malaysian businesses, enterprises and government agencies.
What is DNS?
When you visit a website, you will normally key in a user-friendly name (like www.techarp.com), but the website itself uses a numerical IP address (like 192.0.2.1).
DNS translates that user-friendly name into the correct IP address, so your computer can access the website.
What is DNS redirection?
By default, most people use the DNS servers provided by their Internet service provider. However, some people choose to use alternative DNS servers from Google or Cloudflare for privacy, faster speeds, or to avoid censorship.
DNS redirection prevents that by redirecting all DNS queries from your phone or computer to the ISP’s own DNS servers, where certain websites can be blocked by government directive. In other words – DNS redirection prevents people from circumventing the ISP’s own DNS servers (and the government’s block list).
Is DNS redirection good or bad?
Blocking access to illegal, or dangerous websites is important for businesses, enterprises, and government agencies, because it reduces the risks of reputational damage, and prevents the inadvertent commission of offence by employees. Blocking scam websites is also an important way to prevent people and companies from getting scammed.
On the other hand, public DNS servers from Google and Cloudflare offer faster speeds with lower latency, and block tracking by ISPs or governments. They also offer enhanced security using DNSSEC – DNS Security Extensions.
According to the Maxis FAQ, this MCMC directive affects all ISPs offering both mobile and fixed Internet services in Malaysia.
Who will be affected by DNS redirection?
According to the Maxis FAQ, this MCMC directive primarily affects Business / Enterprise / Government customers who use public DNS services. But there are already reports that consumer DNS queries have also been redirected.
Interestingly, the Maxis FAQ also states, in a different section, that “all service providers must implement this measure, and it applies to to all users of their services“. So this MCMC directive may actually apply to consumer users, and not just business, enterprise, or government users.
Which DNS services are affected?
According to the Maxis FAQ, this directive currently affects public DNS services like Google DNS and Cloudflare. OpenDNS was not mentioned, but is likely to be affected too.
Private DNS servers, and encrypted DNS queries like DNS over HTTPS (DoH) or DNS over TLS (DoT) are not affected.
When must Malaysian ISPs implement DNS redirection?
According to the Maxis FAQ, MCMC ordered all Internet service providers in Malaysia to implement its DNS redirection directive by 30 September 2024.
Users on Time, Telekom Malaysia and Maxis networks have reported that DNS redirection is already in effect.
How to check if DNS redirection has been implemented?
DNS redirection is designed to block access to websites deemed illegal by the government of Malaysia. If you access a blocked website, it will be inaccessible.
You can also test by trying to go to the Cloudflare DNS website – https://1.1.1.1/ using your Internet browser. If you see “Unable to connect”, instead of the 1.1.1.1 website, then your DNS queries are being redirected to your ISP’s own DNS servers.
Alternatively, techies can use the tracert command (in Windows command prompt), or traceroute command (in macOS Terminal) to connect to the alternative DNS server (like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8), and see if it gets routed properly.
If the trace route shows your query ending in a different IP address than the alternative DNS server you selected (like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8), then it is being redirected.
Can you opt out of DNS redirection?
No, unfortunately – you are not allowed to opt out, because it’s a regulatory requirement by MCMC.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
X insiders have refuted Elon Musk who claimed that his disastrous interview of Donald Trump suffered a massive DDOS attack!
Elon Musk : Massive DDOS attack of Trump interview!
On August 11, 2024, X owner Elon Musk announced that he would be conducting an interview of… oh, sorry… a “live conversation” with former President Donald Trump.
Scheduled for 8 PM ET on Monday, August 12, the Musk-Trump “conversation” was hosted on X Spaces (where else?), which should both provide a “safe space” for Donald Trump, and an opportunity for Elon Musk to demonstrate that his “streamlining” of X has not hurt its ability to host major events.
However, the Musk-Trump interview had a disastrous start with a crash. X users who tried to tune in were instead greeted by an error message – “Unable to fetch Space” or “This Space is not available“. Those who somehow managed to get in, only heard lo-fi techno music.
18 minutes later, Elon Musk claimed that X appeared to be under a massive DDOS attack, and X was working to shut it down:
There appears to be a massive DDOS attack on 𝕏. Working on shutting it down.
Worst case, we will proceed with a smaller number of live listeners and post the conversation later.
Several minutes later, Musk claimed that X tested Spaces with 8 million concurrent users, implying that it has to be some kind of nefarious action by someone outside of X.
We tested the system with 8 million concurrent listeners earlier today
When someone suggested that the DDOS attack might have been initiated by the Democrats, Elon Musk agreed.
mark pinkus : Its Dems fighting to ‘save’ Democracy from two massive disrupters!
After the lo-fi techno music finally stopped some 30 minutes later, listeners only heard some rustling from Trump’s microphone, and then silence for another 10-12 minutes, before the interview (sorry, conversation!) finally started.
In the end, the Musk-Trump interview / conversation only hosted some 1 million concurrent listeners on X Spaces – far short of the 8 million Elon Musk claimed Twitter tested earlier.
X insiders deny DDOS attack during Musk-Trump interview!
Oddly, Elon Musk seemed to be hedging his claim with the word “appears”, before offering the 8 million concurrent test as “evidence”. Why would he do that? It’s so weird…
As the owner of X, Musk would clearly know whether X was under “a massive DDOS attack” or not. He wouldn’t need to beat about the bush. He would have network engineers monitoring the traffic, who would be able to spot any suspicious spike in traffic and determine if it was a massive DDOS attack or not.
It now appears that Elon Musk may not have been entirely truthful about the technical issues that beset his disastrous X Spaces conversation with Donald Trump.
At least two X insiders have refuted Elon Musk’s claim. The first confirmed to The Verge that there wasn’t actually a denial-of-service attack on X. Another X staff said that there was a “99 percent” chance Elon Musk was lying about a DDOS attack.
That makes sense, as outside of that Musk-Trump interview, the rest of X (including other X Spaces) was working normally. A massive DDOS attack would have made it impossible for X to function normally. You cannot just target a DDOS attack to hit one specific livestream, and leave the rest of X running normally.
To be clear – there is no evidence of a massive DDOS attack, and there is also no evidence that the Democrats were involved or responsible for the technical failures that marred the disastrous Musk-Trump “live conversation” on X Spaces.
This isn’t the first time X has suffered such failures. Ron DeSantis suffered a similarly embarrassing failure to launch (nod to you SpaceX fans!) when he launched his ill-fated presidential campaign on X Spaces in May 2023.
At that time, Donald Trump mocked the disastrous launch, posting on Truth Social “Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER!” It’s been said that karma is a bitch.
This failure also highlights the drastic changes that Elon Musk made when he purchased Twitter for $44 billion in 2022. He not renamed it X, he gutted about 80% of its staff, leaving just skeleton crews in key areas like site reliability. Karma strikes again?
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Please watch out for the Donald Trump crypto giveaway scam, and warn your family and friends! Here is what you need to know…
Donald Trump Crypto Giveaway : What Is It?
People are sharing posts (archive) which claim that Donald Trump has announced a crypto giveaway of Bitcoin and Ethereum coins (Ether).
The Republican Party supports Donald Trump in his decision to make cryptocurrency one of the key assets of the United States. We aim to expedite the integration process into society and therefore announce a campaign.
The video shows former President Donald Trump speaking at the Bitcoin 2024 conference, calling on people to “click the link” to claim their free cryptocurrencies.
Ladies and gentlemen, I’m announcing a huge initiative to integrate cryptocurrencies into our society. This will accelerate the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies and increase their distribution among American citizens.
We are giving away Bitcoins and Ethereums to you. Click the link and claim yours. Vote for me, let’s make American great again.
The link lead to a website called RepublicanCrypto.com (screenshot | screenshot) that boldly claims that Donald Trump is giving away $100 million worth of cryptocurrencies!
Trump Biggest Crypto Giveaway Of $100,000,000
During this unique event, you have the opportunity to take a share of 1,000 BTC & 10,000 ETH & 100,000,000 DOGE & 10,000,000 USDT. Have a look at the rules and don’t miss out on this. You can only participate once!
We believe that BTC & ETH & DOGE & USDT will make the world more fair. To speed up the process of cryptocurrency mass adoption, we decided to run 1,000 BTC & 10,000 ETH & 100,000,000 DOGE & 10,000,000 USDT giveaway for all crypto holders!
To participate you just need to send any amount from (0.1 BTC to 15 BTC) or (1 ETH to 200 ETH) or (20,000 DOGE to 5,000,000 DOGE) or (1,000 USDT to 500,000 USDT) to the contribution address, and we will immediately send back the double amount (0.2 BTC to 30 BTC) or (2 ETH to 400 ETH) or (40,000 DOGE to 10,000,000 DOGE) or (2,000 USDT to 1,000,000 USDT) (x2) to the address you sent it from
Here are the reasons why the Donald Trump crypto giveaway is a just another scam to cheat you of your hard-earned money!
Fact #1 : Donald Trump Crypto Giveaway Video Is Fake!
First, let me just point out that the video of Donald Trump saying that he is “giving away Bitcoins and Ethereums” is a deepfake video with a fake voice over. If you look carefully, you can see that Trump’s mouth movements do not sync well with what he’s saying.
In any case, Donald Trump never made those comments in his speech at the Bitcoin 2024 conference. This is most definitely a fake video, with a fake voice over.
Fact #2 : Donald Trump Is Not Giving Away Cryptocurrencies!
I should also point out that Donald Trump is not giving away any cryptocurrency. If Trump ever actually gives away money, it would have been reported widely. Obviously, that did not happen, because it’s all made up!
Think about it for a second – Donald Trump is a businessman with a long history of stiffing his suppliers, contractors and/or employees. Why would he give YOU any of his money???
In fact, Trump has been asking people for money. He’s a billionaire because he constantly looks for ways to make more money. It would be silly of him to give $100 million away just to “speed up” cryptocurrency adoption.
Fact #3 : That Is A Scam Website
The RepublicanCrypto.com website is a scam website which falsely claims to be a cryptocurrency giveaway by Donald Trump.
For one thing – the domain is brand new, and was only registered on 28 July 2024. The domain also does not belong to the Republican Party, or Donald Trump. In fact, their ownership is being hidden – which is common with scam websites. On top of that, the contact email is Russian – ek1991@internet.ru.
Instead of giving you cryptocurrencies like in a real giveaway, it asks you to send your own cryptocurrencies to receive double the amount in return!
Send your BTC to the address for X2 back
Send your ETH to the address for X2 back
Send your DOGE to the address for X2 back
Send your USDT to the address for X2 back
That’s utter nonsense. Whatever BTC / ETH / DOGE / USDT cryptocurrency you send to those addresses will be lost for good. You will never get them back, never mind get double the amount!
To further tempt you into giving even more bitcoin or ether, the scammers warn that you can only participate once. That is complete bullshit. They are just preying on your greed and fear of missing out to trick you into sending more cryptocurrency.
Please do NOT send any cryptocurrency to those addresses. It is a SCAM!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Is the WEF plotting a catastrophic grid outage to permanently reset American before the 2024 Presidential Election?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WEF plots grid outage to reset America before election!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that the WEF is plotting a catastrophic grid outage to permanently reset American before the 2024 Presidential Election!
Here is an excerpt of the (intentionally?) confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
WEF Plotting ‘Catastrophic Grid Outage’ That Will ‘Permanently Reset America’ Before Election
The World Economic Forum in Davos is planning what they describe as a “catastrophic grid outage” with the stated goal of “creating a permanent reset” in the US before the November election.
According to insiders, the CrowdStrike outage was the final preparation for a devastating cyber attack on the US power grid that will disconnect the public from the internet, wipe out savings, and plunge the nation into chaos for years, allowing the elite to roll out the next phase of their totalitarian master plan.
Evil never sleeps and we are seeing Schwab’s modus operandi play out before our eyes. The WEF has infiltrated governments across the globe, with every Western nation falling under their control.
Davos has also infiltrated the corporate world, centralizing power and influence around their puppet businesses including Blackrock which owns a huge stake in CrowdStrike.
CrowdStrike, a WEF company with very close ties to the DNC and three-letter agencies, is also operating on a massive level, integrated into the grid, government, financial, transportation, and hospital systems.
Now the globalist elite have ordered a series of devastating cyber attacks and they are using WEF-afiliated companies including CrowdStrike to attack America from the inside.
Truth : WEF is not plotting grid outage to reset America before election!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
WEF is not plotting grid outage in America
Let me start by simply pointing out that the WEF (World Economic Forum) is not plotting any grid outage to reset America, or any other nefarious purposes, before or after the 2024 US Presidential election.
If such a plot exists, it would have been widely reported by the mainstream media, not by a well-known fake news website! In fact, it would have triggered a criminal investigation! Yet none of that happened, because… it was all made up!
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article did not provide any evidence to back up its “fact checked” claim.
CrowdStrike outage was due to buggy update
The People’s Voice article claims that the CrowdStrike outage was “the final preparation for a devastating cyber attack on the US power grid”, but provided no evidence to back up its claim.
That’s likely because the CrowdStrike outage was due to a buggy driver update, and was not a cyberattack at all! In fact, the buggy driver was only pushed to Windows-based system, and did not affect CrowdStrike clients who used Linux or Mac computers.
While the threat of a cyberattack on U.S. utilities is a real possibility, it won’t be caused by a buggy driver update being issued by CrowdStrike or other software companies.
CrowdStrike outage did not disrupt electricity supply
While the CrowdStrike outage impacted the U.S. Department of Energy, and a number of American utilities, it did not disrupt electricity supply. The outage only impacted ancillary services at those utilities (source):
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio was also experiencing issues, they said, impacting their docketing information system and call center. The City of Corpus Christi said its utility billing software and development services software, including customer portals, are both down. The Department of Energy’s website was down for a couple of hours. Avangrid subsidiary New York State Electric & Gas said its customer electricity outage information is not available due to the outage.
That’s not surprising as the CrowdStrike outage only affected Windows-based computers running its Falcon software, which would naturally only be installed in computers connected to the Internet.
It is not easy to take down entire power grid
While the The People’s Voice article suggests that it would be pretty easy for nefarious parties to take down the American power grid, it isn’t simple at all.
Critical systems are air-gapped (not connected to the Internet), and American utilities have to follow the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Reliability Standards developed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).
American utilities therefore have separate networks, so hackers or malware gaining access to the IT network, would not be able to get to the OT (Operations Technology) network that keeps the lights on for everyone.
The Ukrainian blackout of 2015 was the first-ever confirmed case of hackers causing a power outage. But even though that cyberattack likely required months of planning, and dozens of hackers working together, the attack only affected three facilities, with the blackout only impacting 250,000 Ukrainians for just six hours (source).
The cover image used in The People’s Voice article and video has a screenshot which purportedly shows the World Economic Forum posting on X (formerly Twitter) that:
The next CrowdStrike outage will result in a #PermanentReset
That is a fake screenshot, because there is no such post on X by the World Economic Forum! If the WEF actually made such a shocking post, it would have been reported by the media across the world, and mocked and criticised on social media.
But of course, that didn’t happen, because the WEF never made such a bizarre post! Why would The People’s Voice article use a fake screenshot???
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Please watch out for the Elon Musk Bitcoin and Ethereum giveaway scam, and warn your family and friends!
Last updated @ 2024-07-17 : Added new scam website domains First posted @ 2024-05-07
Elon Musk Bitcoin + Ethereum Giveaway : What Is It?
People are sharing posts by Tesla Event (archive), and other X accounts with similar names (like Tesla News), about Elon Musk giving away cryptocurrency, in the form of 5.000 bitcoins (BTC) and 100.000 ether (ETH).
Great times have come! 🚀
To support crypto community, Elon Musk initiated 5.000 BTC and 100.000 ETH Airdrop!
💰First come, first served: TESLA.domain-removed
Great times have come! 🚀
To support crypto community, We are initiated #BTC and #ETH GiveAway!
💰First come, first served: TESLA.domain-removed
The links lead to a website that looks like a Medium post by Elon Musk, with this message:
Elon Musk — Official ETH and BTC Giveaway
Our marketing department here at X (Twitter) HQ came up with an idea: to hold a special giveaway event for all crypto fans out there.
If you want to participate, it’s really easy to do. Just go to these sites to find out more information:
Click this official link to get BTC Click this official link to get ETH
Note: Everyone can participate, including those in the United States. You don’t need a special account to partipate: all wallets and exchanges are eligible! The competition will last until the entirety of the 5,000 BTC and 100,000 ETH held in the airdrop-funds have been released. IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU! THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Why Elon Musk Bitcoin + Ethereum Giveaway Is A Scam!
Here are the reasons why the Elon Musk Bitcoin and Ethereum giveaway is a just another scam to cheat you of your hard-earned money!
Fact #1 : Elon Musk Is Not Giving Away BTC / ETH!
First, let me just point out that Elon Musk is not giving away any Bitcoin or Ether. He is a businessman who loves making money, not give it away.
Even his philanthropy appears to be largely self-serving, making him eligible for enormous tax breaks, and helping his businesses. That’s why he’s a billionaire.
There is also no reason why X (formerly Twitter) would ever give away over $600,000 worth of BTC and ETH cryptocurrency, when it is in financial trouble with negative cash flow, and has already lost about half of its value.
Fact #2 : Those Are Fake / Scam Websites
Those websites are fake, pretending to be a Medium post by Elon Musk. There is no such Medium post by Elon Musk.
And think about this – why would Elon Musk post on Medium, when he can post on X (formerly Twitter) – the social medium platform he owns???
The domains are also brand new, and do not belong to X or Tesla, or Elon Musk. In fact, their ownership is being hidden – which is common with scam websites.
finance-promotion.com – hidden ownership, registered on 26 February 2024
event-promotion.info – hidden ownership, registered on 6 May 2024
event-finance.net – hidden ownership, registered on 10 May 2024
event-finance.org – hidden ownership, registered on 10 May 2024
finance-promo.net – hidden ownership, registered on 18 May 2024
finance-foundation.com – hidden ownership, registered on 21 May 2024
finance-foundation.net – hidden ownership, registered on 25 May 2024
finance-promotion.info – hidden ownership, registered on 9 June 2024
finance-promotion.net – hidden ownership, registered on 11 June 2024
promotion-finance.net – hidden ownership, registered on 12 June 2024
promotion-finance.com – hidden ownership, registered on 14 June 2024
promotion-finance.info – hidden ownership, registered on 14 June 2024
teslacrypto-finance.org – hidden ownership, registered on 10 July 2024
teslacrypto-promo.info – hidden ownership, registered on 13 July 2024
teslacrypto-promotion.info – hidden ownership, registered on 16 July 2024
It appears that the scammers will keep switching the same scam website to different domains every time they get exposed.
This double-up crypto scam relies on your greed to cheat you of your cryptocurrency.
Instead of giving you BTC or ETH like in a real giveaway, it asks you to send your own BTC or ETH to receive double the amount in return!
To verify your address, just send from 0.05 to 2 BTC to the address below and get from 0.1 to 8 BTC (x2 back)!
That’s utter nonsense. Whatever BTC or ETH you send to those addresses will be lost for good. You will never get it back, never mind get double the amount!
To further tempt you into giving even more bitcoin or ether, the scammers offer special bonuses for large transactions:
If you send from 1+ ETH, you will receive from 2+ ETH back +40% BONUS.
If you send from 3+ ETH, you will receive from 6+ ETH back +60% BONUS.
If you send from 9+ ETH, you will receive from 18+ ETH back +80% BONUS.
If you send from 25+ ETH, you will receive from 50+ ETH back +100% BONUS.
If you send from 40+ ETH, you will receive from 80+ ETH back +200% BONUS.
All that is bullshit. They are just preying on your greed to trick you into sending more cryptocurrency.
Please do NOT send any bitcoin or ether to those addresses. It is a SCAM!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Are scammers turning off water supply and using a red Air Selangor tag with a QR code to cheat their victims?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : QR Code On Air Selangor Red Tag Is A Phishing Scam!
People are sharing a photo of a red tag from Air Selangor, claiming or suggesting that scammers are turning off water supply and using the QR code to cheat their victims!
On WhatsApp : A tenant had his water supply suddenly stop so he went out to check and saw this red tag.
This QR leads to a website which at first glance looks like legitimate AS website but it’s not. It’s a scam, like many other imitation website.
Turns out the tap was turned off manually. Air selangor doesn’t operate this way.
Please be alert 🙏🏻
Received from a friend, this could be a similar case of the free water bottle with a QR code scam
Truth : QR Code On Air Selangor Red Tag Is Not A Scam!
This is yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Air Selangor QR Code Is Legitimate
Let me start by pointing out that the QR code on the Air Selangor red tag that people are sharing on WhatsApp appears to be legitimate.
If you scan the QR code, it will take you to a QR code generator and redirect website called ME-QR, with the link https://qr.me-qr.com/3430619.
Once you click on the Skip advertisement link, it will take you directly to the payment page on the official payment website for Air Selangor – https://crisportal.airselangor.com/pay/
While it is admittedly odd for Air Selangor to use a QR code redirect website (instead of linking the QR code directly to their official website), the redirect eventually leads to their official website, which is not a scam or phishing website.
To avoid confusing people, it would be better for companies like Air Selangor to use QR codes that lead directly to their official websites. There is no reason for companies to use QR code redirect services.
Ultimately, this viral message appears to be a misguided attempt by a wannabe Internet security “expert” to warn people about a QR code scam that does not exist.
Fact #2 : Air Selangor Red Tag Is Legitimate
I should also point out that the Air Selangor red tag is legitimate. Air Selangor confirmed on Friday, 12 July 2024, that it leaves a red tag after shutting off water supply to residences or businesses with unpaid bills.
For example, Malaysian actress Zarina Zainuddin posted a photo (archive) of such a red tag on 24 February 2021, when Air Selangor cut off water supply to her house for outstanding bills.
It appears that these red tags from Air Selangor do not have a QR code in the past, but newer red tags have a QR code to encourage debtors to pay their outstanding bills.
The viral message appears to refer to a recent viral claim that scammers are giving out free water bottles with a QR code that will empty your bank account.
I investigated that claim in April, and found it to be false as well. That QR code only led to Go Shopping – a mobile shopping app on the Google Play Store, and Apple App Store. Incidentally, those free water bottles have a Go Shopping logo on them…
Fact #4 : QR Code Is Not Malicious In Nature
QR code (which is short for Quick Response code) is not nefarious or malicious in nature.
The QR code is merely a type of two dimensional barcode that was invented in 1994 by the Japanese company, Denso Wave, to track automotive parts. It has since been adopted for other purposes because it is more efficient and can support more than just numbers. For example, Version 40 QR code can contain up to 7,089 numbers or 4,296 characters.
Ultimately, a QR code is nothing more than a series of numbers or characters – data which can be used for a variety of purposes, including providing a link to an online restaurant menu.
While QR codes are not malicious by nature, scammers can and do create fake QR codes to trick people. In Texas, for example, fake QR codes were placed on parking meters to trick drivers into keying their credit card or bank login information in fake (phishing) websites that look like a genuine payment website.
So, the safest way is to manually open the official website for the bank or payment portal you need, instead of using a QR code.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Is the Malaysian government giving every citizen extra RM1000 through the Bantuan Tambahan financial aid?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out why it’s just a scam!
Bantuan Tambahan RM1000 Scam Alert!
People are sharing links to WhatsApp and Telegram groups that purportedly offer RM1000 in extra financial aid from the Malaysian government! Here are the messages, with our English translation in bold.
Bantuan RM1000 telah dikreditkan dalam MyKad bermula hari ini.
Bantuan kerajaan melalui MyKad ini telah dilaksanakan sejak bulan May 2024.
The domain used by this scam website is quite new, and was registered only on 25 October 2023. But more importantly, its ownership is hidden – a common way for scammers and other criminals to avoid being identified.
Fact #3 : This Scam Targets Your Telegram Account!
I investigated the link, and it appears to be a phishing website based on the STR 2024 scam that I debunked earlier this year.
The scam websites, on the other hand, will ask you to submit your full name, and your mobile number.
They will send an OTP to your Telegram account, and ask you to key in the OTP to their website. This will allow them to hijack and take over your Telegram account.
To protect your Telegram account from such hijacking, please make sure you turn on Two-Step Verification!
Even if you don’t have a Telegram account, the scammers now have access to your full name and mobile number, which they can use in future scam attacks.
Fact #3 : STR 2024 Does Not Give RM1,000 Per Month
To help the hardcore poor handle the high inflation in 2024, the Malaysia Ministry of Finance announced an increase in the amount of STR cash aid.
However, even with the increased STR 2024 cash aid, you won’t receive RM1,000 per month. That’s just insane. Here is what the government is giving for STR 2024, in quarterly payments:
Qualifying
Categories
STR 2024 Cash Aid
Household Income
≤ RM2,500
No Children : RM1,000
1-2 Children : RM1,500
3-4 Children : RM2,000
≥5 Children : RM2,500
Household Income
RM2,500 – RM5,000
No Children : RM500
1-2 Children : RM750
3-4 Children : RM1,000
≥5 Children : RM1,250
Senior (Single)
≤ RM5,000
RM600
Single
≤ RM2,500
RM350
As you can see, only the hardcore poor will get RM1,000, or more. If you are middle class, or well-to-do, you rightly will not qualify for this financial aid!
Do NOT click on the links, and do NOT share them with your family and friends!
Please help us FIGHT SCAMS + SCAMMERS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Will Bill C-63 give police the power to arrest people who posted hate speech, even if the offence occurred before the law existed?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Bill C-63 Will Jail Those Who Ever Posted Hate Speech Online In The Past!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed that the Trudeau government in Canada has introduced Bill C-63, which will give police the power to retroactively search the Internet for hate speech, and arrest people who posted hate speech, even if the offence occurred before the law existed!
Here is an excerpt of the long and (intentionally?) confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Canada To Imprison Anyone Who Has EVER Posted ‘Hate Speech’ Online
The Trudeau regime has introduced an Orwellian new law called the Online Harms Bill C-63, which will give police the power to retroactively search the Internet for ‘hate speech’ violations and arrest offenders, even if the offence occurred before the law existed.
This new bill is aimed at safeguarding the masses from so-called “hate speech.”
Revolver.news reports: The real shocker in this bill is the alarming retroactive aspect. Essentially, whatever you’ve said in the past can now be weaponized against you by today’s draconian standards. Historian Dr. Muriel Blaive has weighed in on this draconian law, labeling it outright “mad.” She points out how it literally spits in the face of all Western legal traditions, especially the one about only being punished if you infringed on a law that was valid at the time of committing a crime.
No doubt this is bone-chilling, scary stuff coming out of Canada, but don’t think it couldn’t happen in the United States, because it can. In fact, the regime-run media is already making the case for it as we speak.
One has to wonder: with this new bill on the table, shouldn’t Justin Trudeau be facing fines, or perhaps even jail time, for his numerous blackface performances?
Truth : Bill C-63 Will Not Jail Those Who Posted Hate Speech Online In The Past!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Bill C-63 Is Enforced By Digital Safety Commission
The People’s Voice article claimed that Bill C-63 will give police the power to retroactively search the Internet for hate speech, and arrest offenders. That is not accurate.
Bill C-63 (read in full) – the Online Harms Act if enacted, will be enforced by the Digital Safety Commission of Canada, and supported by the Digital Safety Office of Canada – both of which will be established by the law.
This is stated clearly in the summary on the first page of Bill C-63. So why would anyone claim that Bill C-63 would empower the police to scour the Internet for hate speech, and arrest offenders???
Fact #2 : Hate Speech Is Already Punishable In Canada!
It is ludicrous to claim that Bill C-63 empowers the police to arrest and imprison people for posting hate speech, because hate speech is already punishable under the current Canadian Criminal Code!
Bill C-63 only amends the Criminal Code to define hatred as “the emotion that involves detestation or vilification” that is “stronger than disdain or dislike“.
In addition, it seeks to clarify that any statement that “discredits, humiliates, hurts or offends” would not be considered as promoting or inciting hatred. It also increases the penalties for hate speech.
In short – the proposed changes to the Canadian Criminal Code narrow the definition of hate speech, even while they increase its penalties.
Fact #3 : Bill C-63 Targets Continuous Hate Speech, Not Retrospective
There is no evidence that Bill C-63 is retrospective in nature. If you read the bill (here), you will see that it does not state that people should be punished for what they wrote before the bill becomes law.
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article never provided any evidence that Bill C-63 allows the Canadian government to punish people for the online hate speech they posted in the past.
What Bill C-63 does though is target continuous hate speech, by adding a new Section 13 to the Canadian Human Rights Act:
Communication of hate speech
13 (1) It is a discriminatory practice to communicate or cause to be communicated hate speech by means of the Internet or any other means of telecommunication in a context in which the hate speech is likely to foment detestation or vilification of an individual or group of individuals on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination.
Continuous communication
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person communicates or causes to be communicated hate speech so long as the hate speech remains public and the person can remove or block access to it.
In other words – if you posted online hate speech in the past, and continue to make it public, you will have infringed the Canadian Human Rights Act, after it’s amended by Bill C-63.
This isn’t retrospective in the sense the law cannot be used to punished hate speech you posted and deleted in the past. It can only be used to punish you if you posted hate speech, and continue to make it public.
Here is a simple solution for those who are worried about Bill C-63. If you receive an order to remove your past hate speech post, just delete it. It’s that simple.
Fact #6 : Canadian Human Rights Act Only Allows For A Fine
The People’s Voice article claimed that Bill C-63 will give police the power to arrest people who post hate speech in the past. That is not accurate either.
For one thing – the Canadian Human Rights Act does not have a prison sentence. People who are convicted under this law is only liable for a fine not exceeding C$50,000.
Punishment
(2) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000.
Bill C-63 does not amend this, so even if the amendments under the Online Harms Act become law, and you continue to make public any hate speech you posted in the past, you can’t be imprisoned under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
You can be imprisoned for hate speech under the Canadian Criminal Code, but this is currently the case even before Bill C-63 becomes law. Bill C-63 actually narrows the definition of hate speech, and arguably makes it harder to imprison someone for hate speech.
On top of that, there is no “Continuous communication” amendment to the Criminal Code, so it appears you cannot be punished for past hate speech that you continue to make public under the Criminal Code. You can only be fined for that under the Human Rights Act.
Fact #7 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Will the QR code on a free water bottle really empty your bank account if you scan it?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : QR Code On Free Water Bottle Will Empty Your Bank Account!
People are sharing a video on WhatsApp and social media, claiming or suggesting that water bottles are being distributed by scammers, and scanning the QR code on those water bottles will empty your bank accounts!
Don’t scan any gift QR, it will Zero your bank account.
The scammer put a new thermos bottle on the iron door. Never scan the QR code on a thermos. Once scanned, the money from the bank account was stolen by the fraudsters. Please spread the word
Here is a translated transcript of what the man says in the video below:
After we came out of the house, we saw this tumbler. This is one of the ways they placed the tumbler on our gates. My house received one, my neighbour also received one. See.
So people have to be careful because the bottle says “Scan QR get RM200 cash coupon”. Go Shopping. You have to be careful. My neighbour also received one.
Truth : QR Code On Free Water Bottle Will Not Empty Your Bank Account!
This appears to be yet another example of fake news circulating online, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Go Shopping Appears To Be Legitimate App
I traced the Go Shopping app to both the Google Play Store (archive), and the Apple App Store (archive), and it appears to be a genuine mobile app. In both stores, it describes itself as:
Go Shopping is an online shopping app primarily serving the Southeast Asian region. It has expanded to over 7 countries, amassing more than 200,000 users. Go Shopping garners support from major source manufacturers, differentiating it from other e-commerce platforms.
As a rapidly growing new e-commerce platform, Go Shopping offers Southeast Asian users high value-for-money shopping, a wide range of products, and various discount plans. Many popular products on the Go Shopping platform are available at substantial discounts of 40% to 60%. Consumers can learn more about products and join flash sale groups
In the Google Play Store, the developer was listed as NWS Hardware Trading, while in the Apple App Store, the developer was listed as Yap Chee Leong.
In the Google Play Store, the Go Shopping app has a 3.5 star rating, and it has a 3.3 star rating in the Apple App Store.
Fact #2 : NWS Hardware Trading Appears To Be Legitimate Company
I looked up NWS Hardware Trading, and it appears to be a genuine company that was incorporated on 10 May 2022 in Malaysia, with the SSM registration number of 003396291-V.
According to CTOS (archive), its official business type was listed as “trading in furniture hardware and aluminium glass door for kitchen and wardrobe“.
However, on two different job recruitment websites (here, here), NWS Hardware Trading uses the same Go Shopping logo, and says that it aims to create “a reliable business platform for shoppers to buy good products and save money“:
About NWS Hardware Trading
WORTH is aimed to present a reliable business platform for the Shoppers to buy the good products and save money. More than 3,000 manufacturers and suppliers have business cooperation with us to help factories clear their inventories.
This basically confirms that NWS Hardware Trading is a legitimate company registered in Malaysia, and it developed and owns the Go Shopping app that is available in both the Google Play Store, and the Apple App Store.
QR code (which is short for Quick Response code) is not nefarious or malicious in nature.
The QR code is merely a type of two dimensional barcode that was invented in 1994 by the Japanese company, Denso Wave, to track automotive parts. It has since been adopted for other purposes because it is more efficient and can support more than just numbers. For example, Version 40 QR code can contain up to 7,089 numbers or 4,296 characters.
Ultimately, a QR code is nothing more than a series of numbers or characters – data which can be used for a variety of purposes, including providing a link to an online restaurant menu.
Fact #4 : QR Code Cannot Empty Bank Accounts
While QR codes are not malicious by nature, scammers can and do create fake QR codes to trick people. In Texas, for example, fake QR codes were placed on parking meters to trick drivers into keying their credit card or bank login information in fake (phishing) websites that look like a genuine payment website.
I tried a number of ways to scan the QR code, but was unsuccessful. The resolution appears to be too poor in the video, or the QR code was too distorted to be scanned successfully. So I cannot confirm that the QR code leads to the Go Shopping app, or a phishing website.
That said, scanning the QR code itself won’t empty your bank account, as people are claiming on WhatsApp and social media. That’s the stuff of bad movie plots.
What can happen though is that scammers can create such water bottles using logos of legitimate companies, and insert QR codes that lead to fake (phishing) websites that masquerade as bank or payment platforms, to trick you into giving up your credit card or bank login details.
Then the scammers can use those details to make fraudulent charges on your credit card, or log into your bank account to transfer money.
Truth be told, scammers would more likely use more famous or familiar brands or apps like TNG eWallet, Grab, Maybank MAE, etc. to trick you into giving up your credit card or bank login details.
You are more likely to trust a QR code from a well-known brand, rather than an obscure brand like Go Shopping, whose app has only garnered some 10,000 downloads in the Google Play Store.
Although I cannot verify the QR code on the water bottle, this looks like a marketing promotion by NWS Hardware to promote its Go Shopping app.
Fact #6 : You Can Choose Not To Scan QR Code
If you receive such a water bottle, there is a simple solution – you can use it without scanning the QR code.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Does the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) ban free speech in Malaysia?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2024-04-02 : Updated after claim went viral again Originally posted @ 2023-07-03
Claim : News Sharing Banned By POTA / Prevention of Terrorism Act
This warning about the Prevention of Terrorism Act / POTA keeps going viral in WhatsApp, and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Here is the original warning in Malay, and our English translation in bold):
No more sharing of news posting after this.
” AKTA POTA YANG TELAH DILULUSKAN MALAM TADI DI PARLIMEN…
THE POTA ACT WAS APPROVED LAST NIGHT IN PARLIAMENT…
Akta Pencegahan Keganasan (POTA) 2015 yang telah diluluskan Dewan Rakyat boleh dikenakan kpd PENGHASUT PEMBENCI KERAJAAN dilaman2 sosial spti Whatsapp, FB, Tweeter, Blog, dsb. Polis akan menahan mana-mana penyebar Fitnah Kepada Pemimpin Negara termasuk yg mengubahuai gambar pemimpin negara bagi mewujud dan menanam kebencian di kalangan rakyat! Tahanan POTA minima selama 2 tahun. Tidak boleh dicabar di semua Mahkamah. Pusat Tahanan di sebuah Pulau berkeluasan 1000 Ekar di Utara Sabah telah bersedia menanti penghuninya selepas OPS POTA 2015 dilancarkan tidak lama lagi.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) 2015 which has been approved by the Dewan Rakyat can be applied to inciters who hate the GOVERNMENT on social media such as Whatsapp, FB, Tweeter, Blog, etc.The police will arrest any person who spreads defamation against national leaders, including those who alter the image of national leaders to create and instill hatred among the people!Minimum POTA detention for 2 years.Cannot be challenged in all Courts.The Detention Center on a 1000 Acre Island in the North of Sabah is ready to await its residents after the OPS POTA 2015 is launched soon.
Hati-hatilah ye…
Be careful…
Even if you just cut and paste, you can be charged for distribution and dissemination. So please take extreme careful.
Attention all Chat Groups ;
Please STOP immediately from circulating any sensitive issues.
Malaysian government has “Passed the Amendment” to the Sedition Act few days ago.
Please note that it’s an offence now to “propagate” any material that is deemed to be of “seditious tendency”. It’s heavier fine and jail term 20 years.
Be careful what you send in social media.Also note that intent is not necessary for sedition.
That means you can’t say you didn’t intend to spread or send the material to cause disharmony or cause anyone feelings to be hurt.
U may want to forward this msg to anyone who is unaware of this law.
Truth : News Sharing NOT Banned By POTA / Prevention of Terrorism Act!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp, and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why!
Fact #1 : Prevention of Terrorism Act Was Passed In 2015
First, I should point out that this is really old fake news that started in April 2015, and keeps recirculating every few years.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act / POTA 2015 (Akta Pencegahan Keganasan 2015) was passed by the Malaysian government on 7 April 2015, and coincided with the arrest of seventeen suspected militants who were allegedly involved in a terror plot in Kuala Lumpur.
Fact #2 : POTA 2015 Targets Terrorism, Not Politics
POTA 2015 is not meant to target any healthy discussion of politics or political issues in Malaysia. Rather, it’s meant to tackle the threat of terrorism in Malaysia:
To prevent the conduct or support for acts of violence involving terrorist organisation of a foreign country.
To ensure that individual involved in terrorist activities do not escape legislative action.
To ensure that Malaysia’s citizens and its security are not threatened by those involved in militant activities.
Fact #3 : POTA 2015 Does Not Ban Free Speech
POTA 2015 does not target people who share news on WhatsApp or social media, even if it’s of sensitive issues. It targets people who are engaged in acts of terrorism, not people who are spreading fake news or criticisms of the government.
Hence, POTA 2015 cannot be used to block people who from sharing this POTA 2015 fake news, which is why the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) had to ask people to stop sharing the fake news, instead of just locking them up!
Even then, people continue to share this fake news about POTA 2015 for the last 7 years on WhatsApp and social media…
Of course, if necessary, the police can use the long-existing Penal Code, and Sedition Act 1948 to prosecute people who share fake news, but that’s another story.
On June 11, 2015, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) publicly posted a long debunking of this viral POTA 2015 warning, calling it “fake news”. Here is the English translation:
PLEASE DON’T SHARE FAKE NEWS ABOUT POTA!!!
✅POTA or Prevention of Terrorism Act (Prevention of Terrorism Act) was not enacted to deal with the issue of incitement but the issue of terrorist activity which the issue of this activity has been enshrined in other substantive laws including Chapter VI and Chapter VIA in the Penal Code.
✅POTA also applies when these terrorist activities involve entities that have been listed in Sections 66B and 66C of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds from Illegal Activities (AMLATFAPUA) Act 2001.
The allegation that this POTA will be used to incite GOVERNMENT HATERS on social media or those who modify the image of national leaders to create and instill hatred among the people is absolutely FALSE. POTA is to deal with TERROR and NOT SEDIMENT.
POTA also cannot be used to detain someone just because of his political beliefs or activities. However, if the party/member/follower of a political party is involved in terrorist activities, then POTA is applicable.
✅The POTA Act prevents before the terrorist activities are carried out. Do you want to see KLCC & KLIA blown up by terrorists, before action is taken? Do you want your children to be involved in terrorist activities, then when the rice has become porridge, new actions are taken? This is because in cases of terrorism, the evidence obtained is in the form of intelligence and most of these evidences are difficult to bring to Court due to the refusal of witnesses to appear in Court to give evidence.
✅This Act is preventive in nature where the Minister’s executive power to impose punishment has been transferred to the Terrorism Prevention Board appointed by the Yang DiPertua Agong (YDPA). The members of the Board are made up of those who have at least 15 years of experience in the field of law.
✅The decision of this Board can be challenged by Judicial Review.
✅ Advocates are allowed to be present when evidence is taken by the Inquiry Officer (IO) appointed by YDPA and the IO must not be a PDRM member/officer.
✅POTA Detention Orders can be challenged, therefore the allegation that POTA Detention Orders cannot be challenged is completely untrue.
✅This Detention Order must also be taken to another Advisory Board as provided for in Article 151 of the Federal Constitution.
✅Considering that POTA is a preventive law, the detainees will undergo a Special Rehabilitation Module that has been designed to neutralize their understanding of extemism, which modules emphasize religious aspects (according to the detainee’s religion), moral and spiritual aspects as well as family relationship issues which family members prisoners are also involved in giving encouragement to the prisoners to successfully continue the neutralization process.
✅It should be remembered that this prevention law is a prevention and not a punitive law. The information about the detention center on a 1000 acre island in the north of Sabah is not true. This is not like the Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay that held the notorious criminal Al-Capone. Instead, the detainees will be placed in a Special Detention Center.
POTA vs ISA
✅POTA or the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 is a preventive law enacted by the Government to deal with any individual or group that commits acts of violence.
✅ This act is not to punish but to detain as prevention and further restore through the Rehabilitation Program organized by the Ministry in collaboration with the police, prisons, Jakim and other Government agencies.
✅POTA is different from ISA because POTA will only be used against terrorists. Can’t be caught randomly.
✅ POTA cannot be equated with ISA. Among the most notable differences are:
▶ Detention Order for ISA is issued by the Minister of Home Affairs whereas POTA is issued by an independent Board whose members are appointed by His Majesty the Yang Di Pertuan Agong. So, for POTA, the minister has no power at all to issue orders or instructions.
▶Before an individual is subject to a Detention Order or Restriction Order, they need to go through a period of detention for police investigation or also called a remand prisoner. The total is 60 days for ISA and POTA. But it is different because the ISA gives full authority to the police to detain directly for 60 days before the Minister issues a Detention or Restriction Order. While POTA needs to be taken to the Magistrate’s Court for the extension of the remand period. So…very different….?
✅One more thing, if ISA, the subject cannot see the family while POTA can see the family or next of kin during the period of detention for police investigation or remand.
✅Finally, for ISA, after a 60-day remand by the police, the Minister will issue an order. As for POTA, it is not the Minister who issues the Order or ‘order’ but an independent Board. In fact, an inquiry officer will conduct an inquiry or investigation to make a ‘recommendation’ whether the subject is involved or not. It should be remembered that the Inquiry Officer cannot be appointed from among the police but they are made up of scheme L officers which is the Law. So it can be seen how transparent this POTA is and there is no issue why this POTA needs to be equated with ISA.
I call for you to spread this explanation instead of false information that can cause annoyance among the community.
DO NOT COPY IF YOU CAN’T PASTE.
DON’T BE POISON IF YOU CAN’T BE A CURE.
It should be noted that spreading false information that can cause public uproar on any social media platform is an offense and can be prosecuted under existing laws including the Sedition Act 1948 and the Penal Code.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did the WEF order devastating cyber attacks on US water supply?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WEF Orders Cyber Attacks On US Water Supply!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that the WEF ordered devastating cyber attacks on US water supply!
Here is an excerpt of that long and (intentionally???) confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
WEF Memo Orders Devastating Cyber Attacks on US Water Supply
The World Economic Forum in Davos has ordered globalist authorities to unleash a series of devastating cyber attacks on the US water supply as part of an initiative to manufacture a global water crisis with far-reaching consequences for humanity.
As the WEF and UN order world governments to prepare to ration people’s water supply as part of their ‘Great Reset’ agenda for humanity, it has never been more important to spread the word about their evil plans.
Now, in a disturbing development, the globalist elite have ordered a series of devastating cyber attacks on the US water supply and critical infrastructure to initiate a manufactured global water crisis that will have far-reaching effects for everybody on the planet.
Nobody should be surprised the New World Order elite in tandem with their favorite country China are waging war on the West and targeting the water supply.
WEF executive Professor Mariana Mazzucato was caught spilling the beans about what the elites were planning for humanity in a clip from the group’s meeting in Davos last year.
In the disturbing video, Mazzucato shares her disappointment that the climate change and COVID-19 narratives have so far proven unhelpful in furthering their cause, but admitted that a water crisis would succeed where those approaches have failed.
Did you catch that? Maazucato admits the elite are going to “experiment” on humanity again. As though the experimental Covid jabs, which are now wreaking havoc on the vaccinated, weren’t enough experimentation for one generation. The elite really do hold us in complete contempt.
Now, in a disturbing development, the globalist elite are claiming that water is not a human right and the world’s water supplies must be privatized and rationed into people’s homes by the elites.
The World Economic Forum is teaming up with the UN to set its sights on seizing control of the world’s water supplies and holding humanity to ransom.
The globalist organizations hosted a conference on water in New York for the first time in 46 years as part of the U.N. quest to accomplish its 17 sustainable development goals, a list that if fully enacted, will give the globalist elites total control over all human activities.
“[T]he conference aims to raise awareness of the global water crisis and decide on action to achieve internationally agreed water-related goals,” the World Economic Forum wrote in a recent post.
“The Global Commission on the Economics of Water, launched at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in 2022, will report on game-changing ways to value and manage water as a common good,” the World Economic Forum wrote in this same recent post.
The key phrase there is “common good.” This is how the elite are trying to justify their seizure and control of the water supply.
Truth : WEF Did Not Order Cyber Attacks On US Water Supply!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : No Evidence WEF Ordered Cyber Attacks On US Water Supply
Let me start by pointing out that there is no evidence the World Economic Forum (WEF) ordered any cyber attacks on US water supply.
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency also never once suggested, never mind reported, that there was any cyberattack by the WEF.
But more importantly – why would the WEF bother with cyberattacks when it allegedly has control over world governments? It can simply order them to restrict water supply, as and when it wishes to. Why bother with cyber attacks???
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article provided no evidence to back up its ridiculous claim.
Fact #2 : WEF Video Is From 2022
Instead of providing any actual evidence, The People’s Voice article posted a link to its own video, which featured Professor Mariana Mazzucato, and claimed that the WEF ordered global water rationing to starve people into submission.
The video clip appears to be taken from the May 2022 WEF press conference on The New Economics of Water (link), and not 2023 as suggested by the article.
Needless to say, the actual video does not show Professor Mariana Mazzucato admit that a water crisis would help to starve people into submission, or that the elite was going to “experiment” on humanity.
Fact #3 : CISA Warned Of Cyberattacks By Iran + China
On 18 March 2024, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA) highlighted two recent and ongoing cyber attacks against critical infrastructure in the United States, including drinking water.
However, those cyber attacks were not conducted by the WEF, but rather, by threat actors affiliated or sponsored by Iran and China. From the full CISA letter to US governors (PDF):
Threat actors affiliated with the Iranian Government Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have carried out malicious cyberattacks against United States critical infrastructure entities, including drinking water systems. In these attacks, IRGC-affiliated cyber actors targeted and disabled a common type of operational technology used at water facilities where the facility had neglected to change a default manufacturer password.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored cyber group known as Volt Typhoon has compromised information technology of multiple critical infrastructure systems, including drinking water, in the United States and its territories. Volt Typhoon’s choice of targets and pattern of behavior are not consistent with traditional cyber espionage. Federal departments and agencies assess with high confidence that Volt Typhoon actors are pre-positioning themselves to disrupt critical infrastructure operations in the event of geopolitical tensions and/or military conflict.
To be clear – these cyberattacks on American water systems have nothing to do with the WEF.
The cover image used by The People’s Voice article and video has a screenshot which purportedly shows the World Economic Forum (WEF) posting on X (formerly Twitter) that:
Water will soon become a privilege you must earn!
That is most definitely a fake screenshot, because there is no such post on X by the WEF.
If the WEF actually posted such a shocking warning, it would have been reported by the worldwide media. But of course, that didn’t happen, because the WEF never posted it!
Yet again, and unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article provided no evidence that such a post ever existed!
Fact #5 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did a cyberattack cause the Dali to hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse?!
Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Cyberattack Caused Dali To Hit Baltimore Bridge!
Right after news broke that the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being hit by a massive container ship, some people immediately began suggesting there was more to the tragedy than meets the eyes…
Alex Jones : Looks deliberate to me. A cyber-attack is probable. WW3 has already started..
Andrew Tate : This ship was cyber-attacked. Lights go off and it deliberately steers towards the bridge supports. Foreign agents of the USA attack digital infrastructures. Nothing is safe. Black Swan event imminent.
Lara Logan : Welcome to the world of cyber terrorism. Acc to intel sources: The Baltimore bridge collapse was a 9/11 style attack but they won’t admit it and we cannot see it because it was a CYBER ATTACK.
All the SCADA systems that run our critical infrastructure like sewage, electric grid, shipping etc are all wide open systems with no encryption because it is too expensive. They can shut us down anytime they want.
MJTruthUltra : 🚨 US Govt. Confirmed China Compromised US Infrastructure via Cyber Attacks, Including Transportation, in February
• Fast Forward.. The Baltimore Bridge Collapse is the suspected act of a cyber attack.
No Evidence Cyberattack Caused Dali To Hit Baltimore Bridge!
This appears to be yet another example of fake news created or promoted by conspiracy theorists and conspiracists, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Dali Lost Power Before Hitting Baltimore Bridge!
Let me start by simply pointing out that the Dali – a massive container ship, only hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, after it lost engine power.
The Dali lost power soon after leaving the Port of Baltimore in the middle of the night. Not only were the crew blinded in the dark, none of its electronics worked and there was no propulsion, so they were unable to control the ship.
As the crew tried unsuccessfully to restart its engine, a local pilot onboard the vessel ordered the ship to be steered to port (left), and the anchor to be dropped. While the crew managed to restore electrical power using an emergency generator, they were not able to restart its engines.
With the ship floating adrift, the two local pilots onboard issued a mayday call at 1:30 AM to warn authorities that a collision was imminent, which allowed them to stop traffic from going over the bridge. A Maryland Transportation Authority official was recorded saying at that time:
There’s a ship approaching that has lost their steering. Until you’ve got that under control, we’ve got to stop all traffic.
The video below, which is being shared on WhatsApp, does not accurately reflect the truth – the ship never regained the use of its engines, but it clearly shows when the ship lost power, and when it restored electrical power.
Despite claims by people with unnamed “inside sources”, there is simply no evidence that the Dali was hit by a cyberattack which steered it right into a bridge in Baltimore.
Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, the Dali is powered by a single MAN 9-cylinder S90ME-C9.2 crosshead diesel engine. It also has a single 3,000 kW bow thruster for manoeuvring in ports, and four diesel generators for electricity.
While those engines, and controls, may be connected to a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), they are not connected to the Internet. Even if the Dali’s SCADA system was somehow taken over by malware, the lack of Internet connectivity would make it impossible for any hacker to steer it into the bridge.
An early Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) report appears to rule out an intentional or act of terrorism, finding that the Dali “lost propulsion” as it was leaving port.
The Baltimore Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said in a press statement, that “There is no specific and credible information to suggest any ties to terrorism at this time.”
United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron also dismissed those claims in a public statement, saying “There is no evidence at this time to suggest that today’s collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has any ties to terrorism.”
If the Dali was indeed hit by a cyberattack before its crash, there would be evidence of hacking or malware in its SCADA system. However, until such evidence is discovered, anyone who tells out that it was definitely hit by a cyberattack is likely lying to you.
Unsurprisingly, none of those who claimed that a cyberattack caused the Dali to lose power and hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge ever provided a single shred of evidence from behind their keyboards.
The loss of power is common in the maritime industry (source) – as many as 600 cases each year according to FuelTrust, although most occur in open water. They are often associated with poorly mixed fuel, or changing from high-sulphur to low-sulphur fuels when entering coastal emission control areas (ECAs).
In fact, shipping experts think “dirty fuel” may be the reason for Dali to lose power before smashing into the Francis Scott Key Bridge (source).
That power loss could have been caused by dirty fuel clogging filters that leadto the ship’s main generator.
While inside a port, as the Dali was before the collision, ships typically run on a relatively light diesel fuel. That also could have been contaminated. Common contaminants include water, dirt and algae. He definitely could have had dirty fuel
– Gerald Scoggins, a veteran chief engineer in the oil and gas industry and the CEO of the Houston company Deepwater Producers
Ian Ralby, the CEO of I.R. Consilium, a maritime and resource security consultancy, also said heavy marine fuel loaded onto ships in port is mixed with what is called cutter stock, and is prone to being loaded with contaminants and is not closely regulated. Such dirty fuel could have “gummed up all of the fuel lines on the ship.”
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Watch out for the Malaysia Airlines free flight scam, and find out why you really cannot get 6 months of free flights for just RM8.80!
Malaysia Airlines Free Flight Scam : What Is It?!
Many people are seeing advertisements on Facebook promoting a Malaysia Airlines Enrich card, which claims to offer 6 months of free flights for just RM8.80!
Malaysia Airlines Free Flight Scam : What You Must Know!
This is yet another scam circulating on Facebook, and here are reasons why…
Fact #1 : No Laws Requiring Malaysia Airlines To Sell Cheap Tickets
First, let me just point out that there is no law requiring Malaysia Airlines to sell flight tickets at such ridiculous prices.
Think about it – you can’t even get a taxi ride for RM8.80 these days, and you expect to travel for free on Malaysia Airlines for 6 months???
Even when AirAsia promoted its Unlimited Pass for domestic flights at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was priced at RM399 and had a lot of restrictions.
Fact #2 : Malaysia Airlines Called It A Scam
To convince you that it’s genuine, and not a scam, the scammers use alternate accounts to post comments, claiming that they received the card, or they confirmed with Malaysia Airlines that the offer is genuine:
I called the Malaysia Airlines hotline to clarify if this promotion exists or it is the work of scammers. The airline manager has confirmed that this is a limited promotion only for Facebook users. Now I’m waiting for my card 🔥
Well, I called up Malaysia Airlines myself, and the staff member confirmed that it is a scam. She also informed me that they received several calls about this scam.
To be clear – there is no such free flight promotion from Malaysia Airlines.
Fact #3 : Enrich Is Malaysia Airlines’ Loyalty Card
To convince you that it’s a genuine deal, the scammers use alternate accounts to post photos of the Malaysia Airlines Enrich card they allegedly received through this promotion.
The trouble is – Enrich is the frequent flyer program for Malaysia Airlines. It’s free for anyone to sign up for Enrich loyalty program and receive a card like that. There is no need to pay RM8.80 for an Enrich card.
The Blue card you see below is actually the basic tier that everyone gets when they sign up for Enrich. Only after flying multiple flights on MAS will Enrich members be able to upgrade to the Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers.
Fact #4 : Those Are Fake Enrich Cards!
If you look closely at the Enrich cards being shown by these scammers, you will notice a few problems.
None of them have the member’s name, or the membership number! They all state “Name Of Card Holder” and the Member ID is **********, making them fake Enrich cards!
On top of that, the fake Enrich cards state “Card For 6 Free Flight“. Not only is that poor grammar – flights, not flight, it also runs counter to the scam promotion, which claims to offer 6 months of free flights, not just 6 free flights!
Fact #5 : That’s Not The Official Malaysia Airlines Page
The scam is being run out of the Promotion | Malaysia Airlines page on Facebook. It is not the official Malaysia Airlines Facebook page, which is at https://www.facebook.com/malaysiaairlines/.
This fake Malaysia Airlines page is also new, apparently created on 19 March 2024.
If Malaysia Airlines has any promotion on its flights, it would be posted on its official website, or its official Facebook page. Never on a completely new Facebook page.
Fact #6 : Scam Leads To Non-MAS Website
If you click on the scam page to order the fake Malaysia Airlines free flights card, you will be taken to a website using the domain gizmoshp.store, which appears to be a placeholder page with Polish text.
It is likely that the scammers keyed in the wrong URL, or their scam page wasn’t been setup properly. Or the page may have malicious scripts.
In any case, please do NOT click on the order button, or attempt to visit this website.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Ahead of World Backup Day on March 31, Synology held an exclusive briefing and demo of its cutting-edge data management, and security features! Watch the video, and find out what Synology demonstrated!
Synology World Backup Day 2024 Briefing + Demo!
On 21 March 2024, Jason Sin, Country Manager at Synology Malaysia, gave an exclusive briefing and demo of its latest data management, and security features, in Kuala Lumpur.
The live session showcased Synology’s exclusive backup features like Active Backup Suite, and Snapshot Replication; highlighting practical use cases against malicious access, accidental deletion, and ransomware threats.
Jason Sin also emphasised the importance of data integrity, and data recovery in the face of virus or ransomware attacks.
During his presentation, he showcased three critical phases of a robust data protection process using Synology solutions:
Prevention of Ransomware Attacks
Synology demonstrated Secure SignIn, a secure login framework designed to enhance account security of Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM), the operating system that powers every Synology NAS.
This feature verifies sign-ins using multiple methods, including approved sign-ins, verification codes (OTP), and hardware security keys. This allows users and businesses to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access and potential ransomware attacks.
Centralised Data Protection
Active Backup for Business is Synology’s all-in-one data protection solution. Synology highlighted its ability to centralise protection across diverse IT environments, including virtualised environments, physical servers, file servers, and personal computers.
In the demo session, Synology showcased how administrators can efficiently deploy and manage data protection strategies through a centralised admin console, ensuring comprehensive backup coverage and seamless continuity of operations.
Synology demonstrated how Snapshot Replication efficiently streamlined data recovery, providing backup capabilities against threats like accidental deletion and viruses. Synology also simulated a ransomware attack by encrypting a file, followed by a swift data recovery conducted through Snapshot Replication.
This showcased its effectiveness in restoring systems to a previous state and emphasized that only a rapid, comprehensive data solution is effective for both end users and enterprises. Administrators can configure scheduled snapshots and retention settings, ensuring efficient data management and recovery, even in scenarios where ransomware attacks occur.
Selected Synology NAS Drives
If you are interested in purchasing Synology NAS drives, here are some highly-rated options you can buy online.
Please note that Tech ARP may receive a referral fee through these and other purchase links.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Is the WEF planning to launch a ‘false flag’ cyber attack to disrupt the 2024 US Presidential election?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WEF Plans Cyber Attack To Disrupt 2024 Election!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed or suggested that the World Economic Forum (WEF) is planning to launch a ‘false flag’ cyber attack to disrupt the 2024 US Presidential election!
The global elite’s Noah’s Ark moment is almost here, according to a WEF insider who warns final preparations are being put in place for a devastating cyber attack on the US power grid that will disconnect the public from the internet, wipe out savings, and plunge the nation into chaos for years, allowing the elite to roll out the next phase of their totalitarian master plan.
While the masses will be left to fend for themselves in a desperate fight for survival that most are supposed to lose, those who have been designated “upgraded humans” by the WEF will be saved by what Davos is calling their “Technological Noah’s Ark.
Preparations for the false flag event are underway and those who are paying attention are seeing evidence of the deception before our very eyes.
Late last week South Carolina primary voters were reportedly unable to vote due to ballot tabulators being unable to connect to the internet.
For years the mainstream media dismissed claims that vote counting machines were connected to the internet was a baseless conspiracy theory.
At this point it is worth asking, is there anything they aren’t lying to us about?
The global elite laid the groundwork for their great deception with the Covid pandemic, training the masses to respond to fear-based programming, and the cyber attack will be the final nail in the coffin.
No Evidence WEF Plans Cyber Attack To Disrupt 2024 Election!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : No Evidence WEF Plans Cyber Attack To Disrupt 2024 Election!
Let me start by pointing out that there is no evidence of the World Economic Forum (WEF) plans to launch a cyber attack to disrupt the 2024 President election.
If a WEF insider did indeed reveal such a plan, it would have gone viral, and it would have been condemned by everyone from the left to the right. The FBI and US Department of Homeland Security would also have launched criminal investigations.
Yet, there was no such report by the mainstream media, and no social media outrage. Heck, even right-wing American websites did not so much as squeak about a juicy WEF plot to launch a cyber attack against the United States???
That’s because that never happened. The People’s Voice article, unsurprisingly, offered no evidence to back up its “fact checked” claim.
Fact #2 : Voters Don’t Use Ballot Tabulators
The People’s Voice article claimed that South Carolina primary voters were “reportedly unable to vote due to ballot tabulators being unable to connect to the internet [sic]”.
Well, I could find no report of South Carolina primary voters not being able to vote because ballot tabulators were unable to connect to the Internet. That’s probably because no voter ever uses ballot tabulators to cast their vote.
Ballot tabulators are machines used to scan and count ballots, and are never used by voters to cast their votes! So how would any ballot tabulator failure prevent voters from casting their votes?
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article offered no evidence of such ballot tabulator failure, or that South Carolina voters were prevented from voting in its 2024 Presidential primary elections.
In fact, the ballot marking devices (BMD), ballot scanners, and computers used to tabulate the votes, are not even capable of being connected to the Internet!
Is the voting system connected to the Internet?
No, the voting system is never connected to the internet. Computers used to tabulate votes, BMDs, and ballot scanners used in South Carolina are not even capable of being connected to the Internet.
Needless to say, The People’s Voice article provided no evidence that ballot tabulators used in South Carolina were even capable of being connected to the Internet, never mind requiring it to work!
Fact #4 : WEF Screenshot Is Fake
The cover image used by The People’s Voice article and video has a screenshot which purportedly shows the World Economic Forum (WEF) posting on X (formerly Twitter) that:
The coming cyber attack will allow a New World Order to emerge.
That is most definitely a fake screenshot, because there is no such post on X by the World Economic Forum. And it’s a really silly creation too – why would the WEF reveal its nefarious cyber attack plan publicly?
Yet again, The People’s Voice article provided no evidence that such a post ever existed! In fact, it would not need some “WEF insider” to spill the beans when the WEF itself already publicly revealed its cyber attack plan!
Fact #5 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did Bill Gates order governments to blacklist citizens who share fake news / misinformation?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Bill Gates Orders Blacklist Of People Sharing Fake News!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that Bill Gates just ordered governments to blacklist citizens who share misinformation / fake news!
Bill Gates Orders Govt’s To Blacklist Citizens Who Share ‘Non-Mainstream’ Content Online
Bill Gates’ Microsoft is now threatening to disable the computers of users who share so-called “misinformation” online as Bill Gates and the WEF continue gearing up for the 2024 election season in the only way they know how – by working on an authoritarian plan to censor all opposition, criminalize so-called “misinformation”, steal the US election, and install puppet governments in penetrated liberal democracies around the world.
The elite know the people are rising up against them and like cornered rats they are now desperate to silence the opposition and crush any dissent against their totalitarian vision of a New World Order.
Bill Gates understands better than most of the elite that the people are not going to be satisfied with prison time for his crimes against humanity and the Microsoft founder has become increasingly bullish about eliminating freedom of speech on the internet.
But that hasn’t stopped Gates traveling the world on his private jet and complaining about “misinformation” to anybody who will listen. Here he is in Australia where he told the state-funded ABC that he was working with tech platforms to eradicate social media users who speak out against his agenda.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told NBC’s Lester Holt this week that people sharing “misinformation” should not be protected by freedom of speech laws. In his opinion, the world needs a new Geneva Convention to deal with anybody who dares to share information that exposes the global elite.
That’s right – the Microsoft CEO is comparing free speech on the internet with the international law that regulates armed conflict.
Truth : Bill Gates Did Not Order Blacklist Of People Sharing Fake News!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Bill Gates Did Not Order Any Blacklist
Let me start by pointing out that there is no evidence Bill Gates ordered any government to blacklist their citizens who spread fake news / misinformation. There was no announcement, no document or press release, not even a leaked video or audio of Bill Gates ordering a blacklist of people who post or share fake news / misinformation.
As usual, The People’s Voice offered no evidence to back up its “fact checked” claim.
Fact #2 : Satya Nadella Is Microsoft CEO, Not Bill Gates
Interestingly, The People’s Voice article used a photo of Bill Gates, even though he handed over day-to-day operations at Microsoft more than 15 years ago. He also stepped down as Microsoft Chairman, when Satya Nadella was appointed as CEO in February 2014.
For people who are unaware, Satya Nadella is both CEO and Chairman of Microsoft. It is Nadella who decides what Microsoft does, not Bill Gates.
Fact #3 : Satya Nadella Never Ordered Any Blacklist Either
Satya Nadella never ordered any governments to blacklist citizens who share fake news / misinformation either.
In his interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt, he only said that the technology is there to tackle disinformation and misinformation, and the problem is deciding on the policy:
Then the question, again, comes back to: How do we build consensus between parties, candidates, and the norms around what is acceptable or not acceptable?
As the interview clearly shows, Satya Nadella isn’t dictating what is considered acceptable, or not acceptable. Why would anyone claim otherwise?
Fact #4 : Bill Gates X Post Is Fake
The People’s Voice article and video used a cover photo which appears to feature a screenshot of a post by Bill Gates on X (formerly Twitter), in which he appears to say, “Wanna share fake news? No internet for you!”
That is definitely a fake screenshot, because Bill Gates never posted that on his X account. In fact, Bill lGates appears to have stopped posting on X after 7 October 2023.
As usual, The People’s Voice article and video offered no evidence, or a link, to prove that Bill Gates ever posted it.
Fact #5 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Publishing Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Is Microsoft planning to disable your computer if you post or share fake news / misinformation?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Microsoft To Disable Your Computer If You Share Fake News!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that Microsoft is planning to disable your computer if you post or share fake news / misinformation!
Microsoft To Disable Computers of Users Who Share ‘Non-Mainstream Content’ Online
Microsoft has announced plans to disable the computers of people who share ‘non-mainstream’ content online, in an attempt to combat so-called ‘misinformation’ in the run-up to the 2024 election.
During an interview with NBC’s Lester Holt, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was questioned about how AI might either assist or endanger the future election.
Reclaimthenet.org reports: However, Nadella’s response seemed to imply a willingness to use technology for censoring content in pursuit of fighting what he identified as disinformation.
Nadella stated, “This is not the first election where we dealt with disinformation or propaganda campaigns by adversaries and election interference.
“We’re doing all the work across the tech industry around watermarking, detecting deep fakes and content IDs. There is going to be enough and more technology quite frankly in order to be able to identify the issues around disinformation and misinformation.”
Truth : Microsoft Won’t Disable Your Computer If You Share Fake News!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Microsoft Did Not Announce Plans To Disable Computers
Let me start by pointing out that Microsoft did not announce any plans to disable computers of people who share “non-mainstream” content online, in an attempt to combat “misinformation” in the run-up to the 2024 US Presidential election.
If Microsoft actually announced such plans, it would have been major news covered by news outlets all over the world. It would also have gone viral on social media, with conservative and right-wing personalities criticising those plans.
Microsoft certainly made no such announcement, and The People’s Voice offered no evidence to back up its “fact checked” claim.
Fact #2 : Satya Nadella Is Microsoft CEO, Not Bill Gates
Interestingly, The People’s Voice article used a photo of Bill Gates, even though he handed over day-to-day operations at Microsoft more than 24 years ago. He also stepped down as Microsoft Chairman, when Satya Nadella was appointed as CEO in February 2014.
If Microsoft does indeed plan to disable computers to fight fake news, that decision would have to be approved by its CEO and Chairman, Satya Nadella. Not its former founder, Bill Gates.
How is Bill Gates involved in this “story”? Nothing in the article even remotely suggests that Bill Gates is, in any way, involved in Microsoft affairs, or the non-existent plan to disable computers of people who share fake news / misinformation.
Fact #3 : Satya Nadella Never Said Anything About Disabling Computers
The People’s Voice article used a video of Lester Holt from NBC News interviewing Satya Nadella as evidence that Microsoft plans to disable computers of people who share misinformation. However, that’s completely nonsensical.
The NBC News video only shows Satya Nadella saying that the tech industry is using technological solutions like watermarking [AI created content], detecting deep fakes, and implementing content IDs, to fight disinformation and misinformation.
This is not the first election where we dealt with disinformation or propaganda campaigns by adversaries and election interference.
We’re doing all the work across the tech industry around watermarking, detecting deep fakes and content IDs. There is going to be enough and more technology quite frankly in order to be able to identify the issues around disinformation and misinformation.
Fact #4 : Microsoft Can’t “Magically” Disable Computers Remotely
Even if Microsoft is so inclined, disabling a computer remotely isn’t like waving a magic wand, or chanting “Abracadabra”!
With the possible exception of specifically hacking into your computer to gain access, or tricking you into installing malware, it is not possible for Microsoft to remotely disable your computer simply because you shared fake news or misinformation.
The People’s Voice article certainly offered no explanation of how Microsoft might conceivably disable your computer remotely… like magic!
Fact #5 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Publishing Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Watch out for the STR (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah) 2024 scam, and find out why you really cannot get RM1,000 per month!
STR 2024 Scam : Get RM1,000 Per Month For Free!
Many people are getting messages about getting RM1,000 in free cash through the STR (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah) scheme on WhatsApp and Telegram, from their family members and friends:
TERKINI: Permohonan untuk bantuan MySTR 2024 RM1000 sebulan . 📒 Borang Permohonan (Online dan Manual) 📒 Kemaskini Maklumat kerajaan . Memohon secara online👇👇 https://xxxx-xxxx-xx-xxx-tunai2024.com/39/kerajaan
This is yet another scam circulating on WhatsApp and Telegram, and here are reasons why…
Fact #1 : STR 2024 Is Only Given Quarterly
First, let me just point out that the 2024 STR (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah) program is genuine. However, it is restricted to the hardcore poor, and is paid out quarterly.
STR 2024
Application Period
Payment Date
Phase 1
1 to 30 Nov 2023
29 January 2024
Phase 2
1 Dec 2023 to 29 Feb 2024
April 2024
Phase 3
1 March to 30 June 2024
August 2024
Phase 4
1 July to 30 Sept. 2024
November 2024
In short – you won’t get the money on a monthly basis, as the scam websites are claiming.
Fact #2 : STR 2024 Scam Targets Your Data + Telegram Account
The scam websites, on the other hand, will ask you to submit your full name, and your mobile number.
They will send an OTP to your Telegram account, and ask you to key in the OTP to their website. This will allow them to hijack and take over your Telegram account.
To protect your Telegram account from such hijacking, please make sure you turn on Two-Step Verification!
Even if you don’t have a Telegram account, the scammers now have access to your full name and mobile number, which they can use in future scam attacks.
To convince you that their offer is genuine, the scam websites often show a scrolling list of successful applicants – each one receiving RM1,000. That’s a fake list.
If you check the source code, you can see that the scammer merely created a manual list of fake names. Here is a small segment with the fake details highlighted in bold, to show you what I mean:
Fact #4 : STR 2024 Does Not Give RM1,000 Per Month
To help the hardcore poor handle the high inflation in 2024, the Malaysia Ministry of Finance announced an increase in the amount of STR cash aid.
However, even with the increased STR 2024 cash aid, you won’t receive RM1,000 per month. That’s just insane. Here is what the government is giving for STR 2024, in quarterly payments:
Qualifying
Categories
STR 2024 Cash Aid
Household Income
≤ RM2,500
No Children : RM1,000
1-2 Children : RM1,500
3-4 Children : RM2,000
≥5 Children : RM2,500
Household Income
RM2,500 – RM5,000
No Children : RM500
1-2 Children : RM750
3-4 Children : RM1,000
≥5 Children : RM1,250
Senior (Single)
≤ RM5,000
RM600
Single
≤ RM2,500
RM350
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
30 minutes ago / Family announced the sad news of Legend Brad Pitt / Farewell in tears
WITH A HEAVY HEART AS WE REPORT THE SAD NEWS, GOODBYE BRAD PITT. ANGELINA JOLIE WAS REALLY BROKEN
7 A.M! En el funeral de Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie y muchos otros actores lamentan su fallecimiento 7 AM!At Brad Pitt’s funeral, Angelina Jolie and many other actors mourn his death
8h / La triste nouvelle concernant l’acteur Brad Pitt a fait pleurer des millions de personnes. 8 a.m. / The sad news about actor Brad Pitt has made millions of people cry.
Truth : Brad Pitt Was Not Found Dead From Suicide!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by people to generate income from scams, page views and YouTube advertising, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Brad Pitt Suicide Ad Was FB Malware
Let me start by warning you that the Brad Pitt being found dead from suicide was a malware scam that circulated through a Facebook advertisement.
Those who clicked on it were directed to a scam website which tries to trick users into installing malware, rogue Facebook apps, rogue antivirus scanners, or tricked into divulging personal information through fake surveys.
Some were also asked to allow a fake Fox News app to gain permission to their profiles. Those who bypassed the permission pop-up were directed to a fake story about Brad Pitt’s suicide:
Brad Pitt, 52, a multi-awarded American actor and husband of Angelina Jolie, 41, shot himself in the head at a shooting range on Sunday. He was under significant stress because the couple “were going through a divorce and he had a history of depression”, sources have said.”
After extensive media coverage, Facebook finally issued a warning to advise people not to click on the fake advertisement, and to warn those who did so earlier, to change their account passwords and scan for malware.
Fact #2 : Brad Pitt Is Still Alive
Brad Pitt (born William Bradley Pitt on December 18, 1963) is still alive as of 21 January 2024. In fact, he was just spotted in public several days ago!
Even though Brad Pitt is notoriously a very private person, he was seen entering the Gagosian Gallery with his new girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, on Friday, 19 January 2024.
Wearing a brown leather bomber jacket, Brad Pitt looked very healthy for someone who is supposed to have died!
That night, Brat Pitt and Ines de Ramon attended an exhibition by his Moneybag director, Bennett Miller. Britney Spears’ ex-husband, Sam Asghari, was also there. He asked Pitt for a selfie, and later went to chat with Pitt’s former in-laws, James Haven and Jon Voight.
As you can clearly see, Brad Pitt is still very much alive… and looking great!
Fact #3 : No Legitimate Media Outlet Reported His Death
These YouTube videos have been circulating for weeks and months, but people don’t seem to notice that no legitimate media has reported Brad Pitt’s death.
Brad Pitt is one of the most famous celebrities in the world. If he only tripped and fell while walking along Hollywood Boulevard, it would have been international news, covered by celebrity blogs and media outlets.
No legitimate media outlet, or even celebrity blog, reported that Brad Pitt was found dead from suicide, or died suddenly from any cause, because it’s simply not true. Why should you believe some small-time or YouTube channel or random Facebook posts?!
Fact #4 : Brad Pitt Funeral Photos Were Edited
I analysed the photos used in these videos, and traced the origin of two examples used in many of these videos.
This photo used to show Brad Pitt’s funeral is actually a photo from the funeral of Fernando Gaitan, the Colombian TV producer and screenwriter who created the telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea, which has been adapted in multiple countries.
The funeral was held in Bogota, on Thursday, 31 January 2019. Obviously, that was not Brad Pitt’s funeral, as he was very much alive at that time!
The fake news creator merely added a photo of Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie holding up his photo.
This photo does not show Brad Pitt’s coffin being carried out during his funeral. It actually shows the coffin of one of the six Philpott children during their funeral in June 2012. They were murdered by their parents, Mick and Mairead Philpott, who set fire to their home.
If you look carefully, you can see that the pallbearers are carrying multiple coffins. Did it not strike you strange that Brad Pitt’s funeral would have more than one coffin???
Also, the coffin looked remarkably small for an adult. That’s because the coffin was for a 10 year-old little girl called Jade. The fake news creator merely tacked on a photo of Brad Pitt to fool you into believing that it was his funeral.
Fact #5 : Brad Pitt Death Hoax Is Driven By Fake Fact Check Too
This Brad Pitt death hoax, ironically, is also being driven by another fake fact check article by MediaMass Project.
News of actor Brad Pitt’s death spread quickly earlier this week causing concern among fans across the world. However the January 2024 report has now been confirmed as a complete hoax and just the latest in a string of fake celebrity death reports. Thankfully, the actor best known for his roles in Fight Club, Legends of the Fall or A River Runs Through It is alive and well.
Rumors of the actor’s alleged demise gained traction on Friday after a ‘R.I.P. Brad Pitt’ Facebook page attracted nearly one million of ‘likes’. Those who read the ‘About’ page were given a believable account of the American actor’s passing:
“At about 11 a.m. ET on Friday (January 19, 2024), our beloved actor Brad Pitt passed away. Brad Pitt was born on December 18, 1963 in Shawnee. He will be missed but not forgotten. Please show your sympathy and condolences by commenting on and liking this page.” Hundreds of fans immediately started writing their messages of condolence on the Facebook page, expressing their sadness that the talented 60-year-old actor and producer was dead. And as usual, Twittersphere was frenzied over the death hoax.
Their claim of a viral R.I.P. Brad Pitt Facebook page is false. There is no such Facebook page. It is their standard fake fact check spiel for fake celebrity deaths.
He joins the long list of celebrities who have been victimized by this hoax. He’s still alive and well, stop believing what you see on the Internet.
Hidden in the description page for the MediaMass Project is a disclaimer that they are a “satire” website. That’s the usual “cover” for websites peddling fake news.
Regardless of their reasons, anything posted by MediaMass.net must be considered as fake news, until proven otherwise.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Was Hillary Clinton just named ‘Person of Interest’ in a child sex trafficking investigation?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Hillary Clinton Under Investigation For Child Sex Trafficking!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that Hillary Clinton was just named ‘Person of Interest’ in a child sex trafficking investigation!
Hillary Clinton Named ‘Person of Interest’ in Child Sex Trafficking Investigation
Twice failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has been named a “person of interest” in a child sex trafficking investigation according to FBI sources who allege her crimes have been well-known inside the bureau for years.
While former President Bill Clinton is facing unwanted media attention due to revelations in newly released court documents about his close friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Esptein, it’s actually Hillary Clinton who is closer to facing justice, according to the FBI.
For those who have come of age in recent years, it might be hard to imagine a time when the mainstream media actually did its job and held the powerful to account.
Take Fox News for example. Before the network was completely co-opted by the globalist establishment, Fox used to report straight news. In 2018 they even dared to mention that Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation were under investigation for crimes against children.
This has since been completely covered up by the entire mainstream media and anyone who dares to mention it gets called a crazy conspiracy theorist.
Then it was revealed by NBC News of all places that secretary of state Hillary Clinton shut down an investigation into an elite pedophile ring in State Department ranks after her colleagues were revealed to be soliciting sex from underage minors.
The mainstream media and social media including YouTube have completely banned this news report from being posted.
Truth : Hillary Clinton Is Not Under Child Sex Investigation!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : No Evidence Hillary Clinton Is Under Child Sex Investigation
First, let me just point out that there is zero evidence that Hillary Clinton was just named a ‘Person of Interest; in a child sex investigation. The People’s Voice certainly offered no evidence to back up its claims.
If Hillary Clinton was actually named a ‘Person of Interest’, this would have been covered by mainstream media all across the world, not announced only in a notorious misinformation website.
Right-wing QAnon and MAGA conspiracy theorists, fuelled by Russian operatives have long claimed that Hillary Clinton runs a child sex ring in the basement of a Washington D.C. pizza restaurant.
Yet, they have not been able to furnish even one iota of evidence that Hillary Clinton was ever investigated for any child sex crime.
Fact #2 : Hillary Clinton Did Not Cover Up Pedophile Ring
Instead of providing any evidence for Hillary Clinton being named a ‘Person of Interest’ in a child sex trafficking investigation, The People’s Voice linked to its old 2017 article claiming that Clinton covered up a pedophile ring at the State Department.
Not only was that report almost 4 years too late – the NBC report aired in June 2013, it misrepresented what was reported.
The NBC News segment looked at the State Department’s internal investigations into alleged improprieties by an ambassador, who was accused of prostitution and pedophilia. The ambassador, who was later identified as Howard Gutman – the US ambassador to Belgium., was said to have “routinely ditched his protective security detail in order to solicit sexual favors from both prostitutes and minor children“.
NBC News reported that top state department officials directed investigators to “cease the investigation” into the ambassador’s conduct. However, NBC News never claimed or suggested that Hillary Clinton, who was the Secretary of State at that time, covered up any pedophile ring in the State Department.
The State Department Office of Inspector General looked into whether the investigation was mishandled. In October 2014, the Inspector General published its report, in which it said that “the suspected misconduct by the Ambassador was not substantiated“.
The allegations against Ambassador Howard Gutman was never substantiated, or proven. The Inspector General also did not suggest or claim that Hillary Clinton interfered or intervened with the investigation.
In other words – there was no pedophile ring in the State Department, and Hillary Clinton did not cover up anything.
Fact #3 : Hillary Clinton Screenshot Appears To Be Doctored
The screenshot which purportedly shows Hillary Clinton posting that “The Feds are now against me“, and “The videos are on the dark web“, appears to be doctored.
There is no evidence that Hillary Clinton ever posted this on social media, and why would she? Think about this for a moment – why would Hillary Clinton ever post publicly that videos of her alleged child sex crimes are now on the dark web?
And if that was something Hillary Clinton really posted on social media, why would The People’s Voice censor it? Isn’t that odd?
Fact #4 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Publishing Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did the WHO (World Health Organization) just unveil its Global Police Force with the power to arrest people?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WHO Unveils Global Police Force With Arrest Powers!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), claiming that the WHO (World Health Organization) just unveiled its Global Police Force at the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos.
Ostensibly, this WHO Global Police Force has the power to arrest people who spread “non-mainstream content” on the Internet!
WHO Unveils ‘Global Police Force’ To Arrest Citizens Who Post Independent Media Online
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced plans to rollout a global police force that will be responsible for punishing citizens who spread non-mainstream content on the Internet.
In a session titled “Disease X,” WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared that in order to be “better prepared” and “to understand disease X,” the WHO’s legally binding ‘Pandemic Agreement’ needs to be adopted by leaders worldwide.
The Pandemic Agreement would grant the WHO unprecedented control over sovereign nations – allowing them to outlaw free speech and imprison citizens for sharing so-called ‘misinformation’ online.
He explained that the deadline for the legislation is May of this year and member states are negotiating between countries to implement it.
Truth : WHO Did Not Unveil Any Global Police Force!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : WHO Did Not Unveil Any Global Police Force
First, let me just point out that the WHO (World Health Organization) did not unveil any Global Police Force, whether at the 2024 World Economic Forum, or elsewhere.
If such a police force was actually established, it would have been reported by mainstream media all over the world. There was no such coverage because it never happened. The People’s Voice article certainly offered no evidence of such a WHO Global Police Force.
In fact, if such a global Internet police force was established, the creators behind fake news websites would have been arrested. The fact that The People’s Voice can freely post such fake news is evidence that such a police force does not exist.
Fact #2 : Pandemic Treaty Was Initiated By WHO Member States
It is also important to point out that the Pandemic Treaty was not initiated by the World Health Organization itself, but rather its member states.
The International Health Regulations (IHR) were first adopted by member states in 1969, empowering the WHO to monitor global diseases. Those regulations have since been revised over the years, including in 2005 – after the SARS outbreak.
On 1 December 2021, world leaders agreed to kickstart the process to draft and negotiate an agreement or convention to “strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response“.
Fact #3 : Pandemic Treaty Does Not Outlaw Free Speech
If you read the zero draft of the proposed Pandemic Treaty, you will realise that the WHO is not planning to control the Internet, or outlaw free speech. This is explicitly stated in Article 17, which refers to “Parties” that are the member states.
The Parties commit to increase science, public health and pandemic literacy in the population, as well as access to information on pandemics and their effects, and tackle false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation, including through promotion of international cooperation.
As you can see, under the agreement, each individual country will commit to increase knowledge about science and public health, as well as combat “false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation”.
Not only does the article clearly state that it is up to each country (not the WHO) to implement its policies, it does not mention anything about controlling the Internet.
The only people who need to worry about Article 17 of this proposed WHO agreement are those who peddle “false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation”.
Fact #4 : Pandemic Treaty May Not Be Binding
If you download and read the zero draft, you will realise that the WHO is still calling it a “convention, agreement, or other international instruments“, clearly showing that member countries have not decided whether they want it to be binding or otherwise.
In the third point noted on the very first page of the draft, it was even pointed out that this is just a draft that is being used for “commencing negotiations“, and that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed“.
The INB (Intergovernmental Negotiating Body) further agreed that the zero draft would be considered at its fourth meeting as a basis for commencing negotiations at that meeting, it being understood that the zero draft will be without prejudice to the position of any delegation and following the principle that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”.
While some countries like the European Union, Britain, Indonesia and Kenya would prefer a legally-binding Pandemic Treaty, other countries like the United States, India and Brazil oppose a legally-binding agreement.
So it is ludicrous to claim that the Pandemic Treaty will be legally binding. No such decision has been made.
Fact #5 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Publishing Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should NEVER share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Like the British Yellow Card system, VAERS has long been used by antivaxxers to create fake news about vaccines.
Find out why VAERS is so important to doctors, and yet so easily abused by antivaxxers!
Updated @ 2024-01-07 : Refreshed article for new slew of VAERS-based “reports” Originally posted @ 2021-09-03
VAERS : What Is It?
VAERS is an acronym for the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System used by the US government.
Like the British Yellow Card system, it is a passive reporting system that relies on individuals to submit reports of their adverse reactions to vaccines.
This open design used by both VAERS and Yellow Card lets scientists catch very rare adverse effects that even large clinical trials may not catch.
For example, anaphylactic reactions to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are so rare, they didn’t show up in their large Phase 3 clinical trials at all. They were only identified through VAERS after mass vaccinations started.
Here’s How Antivaxxers Create Fake News Using VAERS!
Both the American VAERS and the British Yellow Card system suffer from the same problem – their open catch-all design lets ANYONE file a report.
Not just parents and patients, but also any Tom, Dick or Harry with nothing better to do. And you don’t even have to ever been to the United States to file a report!
This allows antivaxxers to abuse both the VAERS and Yellow Card systems to create fake news about vaccines.
Back in 2004, James Laidler famously filed an adverse reaction report into VAERS, claiming that his annual influenza vaccine turned him into the Incredible Hulk!
Incredibly, the CDC had to ask for his permission to remove the fake report. Otherwise, it would remain in the database forever!
The CDC is well-aware of this problem, which is why they explicitly pointed out to everyone that :
Reports may include incomplete, inaccurate, coincidental and unverified information.
The number of reports alone cannot be interpreted or used to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, frequency, or rates of problems associated with vaccines.
So the next time you read an article claiming that VAERS or the Yellow Card system are reporting injuries and deaths from this or that vaccine, take them with a BIG, BIG PINCH of salt. None of those reports are verified.
VAERS : Anyone Can File A Fake Report!
To demonstrate this point, here is a fake report I attempted to file into VAERS, with the following information :
First Name : Donkey Last Name : Kong Street Address : Rolling Barrel Avenue City : Jungle County : Donkey Date Of Birth : 1 January 1908 Age : 113 Years Old
Race : 1% white, 2% black, 3% Asian, 4% Latin, 90% alien
Date of Vaccination : 31 May 2021, 1:00 AM Date of Adverse Event : 31 May 2021, 1:01 AM Facility / Clinic Name : Jungle Clinic Facility / Clinic Address : Jungle Clearing, Jungle
The doctors at AdventHealth Orlando have all my medical reports and my right arm.
Days hospitalised : 300
Life threatening illness : Yes
Disability or permanent damage : Yes
Congenital anomaly or birth defect : Yes
Other Vaccine : Bullshit Vaccine
Manufacturer : Google
Adverse Event From That Vaccine : My penis fell off after getting the MMR vaccine
I did not hit Submit though, because I did not want to add another fake adverse event to the holster of anti-vaccination advocates.
But take a look at the screenshots, and see just how easy it is for anyone to make a fake VAERS report. There is no need to verify any personal details, and you can do this from anywhere in the world!
But as you can now see – it is very easy to abuse VAERS. With enough time and persistence, you can file all kinds of fake reports on VAERS, and use those reports to push your narrative.
That’s why responsible people do not use unverified VAERS reports. You should always be wary of anyone who makes a claim based on VAERS reports.
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Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Be warned – your eWallet account may be blocked, if you attempt to transfer your free RM100 eMADANI credit! Here is what you need to know…
eMADANI : 10 Million Malaysian Citizens To Get Free RM100!
On 27 July 2023, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Malaysian government will give a special, one-off RM100 eWallet credit.
On Wednesday, 29 November 2023, the government announced that the eMADANI programme will benefit some 10 million Malaysian citizens and 2 million businesses, with a total budget of RM 1 billion.
The eMADANI programme is a new initiative that is designed to stimulate the micro, small and medium enterprises (PMKS), as well as promote cashless payments, and alleviate inflationary pressures on the rakyat.
From 4 December 2023 until 20 February 2024, eligible Malaysians can register and receive RM100 in one of these four eWallets:
MAE
Setel
ShopeePay, and
Touch ‘n Go eWallet
Please note that these four eWallet providers will also be offering additional incentives in the form of vouchers, cashbacks, discounts, reward points, and coins. So be sure to “shop around” for the best offers, before deciding on which eWallet to use!
eWallet May Be Blocked If eMADANI Credit Is Transferred!
On Monday, 4 December 2023, the Malaysia Ministry of Finance issued a statement warning that your eWallet may be blocked if you attempt to transfer your free RM100 eMADANI credit out!
This is partly because the eMADANI programme is meant to promote the digital economy, and the use of cashless payments in Malaysia.
The RM100 eWallet credit must be spent physically in retail stores and businesses using the the eWallet of your choice, except:
peer-to-peer transfers
cash redemptions
bill payments through the eWallet
government fee payments through the eWallet
telco postpaid payments and prepaid reloads through the eWallet
game payments through the eWallet
parking and toll payments
investment activities through the eWallet
e-commerce or online transactions
On top of that, the Ministry is aware of online scams offering “cash out” services to people. To avoid people being tricked into transferring their eMADANI credit out, the Malaysian government may order the blocking of eWallet accounts used in such activities, as well as the eMADANI credit involved.
So please make sure you do not transfer your RM100 eMADANI credit out of your eWallet. Do not fall for scams offering you the option to “cash out” the money. Instead, use the eMADANI credit to purchase at retail stores.
Please SHARE this article out, to warn your family and friends!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Will your phone get hacked if you scan the TNG RFID bar code?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2023-11-17 : Added new version, and more details. Originally posted @ 2023-05-10
Claim : Scanning TNG RFID Bar Code Can Hack Your Phone!
This warning about an RFID bar code scam has gone viral on WhatsApp, and social media, claiming that scammers are sending people free TNG RFID stickers, and asking them to scan the bar code.
Allegedly, scanning the TNG RFID bar code will cause your phone to be hacked by these scammers!
They send the RFID to you. When you scan the bar code they hack your hp It’s a scam
他们将 RFID 发送给您。 当您扫描条形码时,他们会入侵您 这是一个骗局
Mereka menghantar RFID kepada anda. Apabila anda mengimbas kod bar mereka menggodam anda Ia satu penipuan ☠️👻💩😱😰
If you get this free RFID card via courier, please throw away. Another scam.
Truth : Scanning TNG RFID Bar Code Will NOT Hack Your Phone!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : TNG RFID Bar Code Cannot Hack Your Phone
First of all – let me just say that the TNG RFID bar code cannot hack your phone. In fact, no one can hack your phone just because you scan an RFID bar code.
The bar code is nothing more than a series of numbers, which you can readily see printed under the bar code. These numbers cannot possibly hack your phone / smartphone.
Fact #2 : TNG Bar Code Is Used To Register RFID Sticker
The bar code visible in the clear window of the TNG RFID self-fitment kit is merely the serial number for the RFID sticker (also known as an RFID tag).
This serial number is used to register the RFID sticker, by scanning scan the bar code using the TNG eWallet mobile app. All it does is link the RFID sticker to your TNG eWallet account, so that all toll charges are automatically deducted from that account.
Fact #3 : TNG RFID Swapping Can Be Easily Detected
One of our readers suggested that the scammer might have swapped out the bar code, to trick you into registering a different TNG RFID sticker owned by the scammer.
This would allow the scammer to use his/her TNG RFID sticker to go through highway tolls for free, while you would be charged for his/her travels.
While that is plausible, it would be quickly detected by the victim who would not be able to use the RFID sticker to get through the toll. The victim would also be able to detect the illegal charges to his/her TNG eWallet account.
One of our readers suggested that the scammer may be trying to trick people into scanning the barcode of a duplicated RFID sticker. The scammer can then use the duplicate RFID sticker to go through tolls, which would be charged to the victims’ TNG eWallet accounts.
Now, Touch ‘n Go has not revealed much about how it is protecting its RFID stickers, only saying that each TNG RFID sticker has an embedded radio-frequency chip that makes every sticker “unique to each customer”.
But that suggests that the RFID stickers are not only encrypted, the chip has a private key that prevents duplication, which makes a lot of sense. Without such encryption and private key, anyone can literally just read the number off any RFID sticker in a parking lot, and duplicate it in a programmable RFID sticker.
Unless the scammer has somehow stolen the private keys, and can perfectly duplicate the RFID stickers, this seems like an improbable scam. More so when the scammers would be limited to using the tolls for free. Hardly worth the effort, if you ask me.
Fact #5 : There Are Easier + Cheaper Ways To Hack Your Phone
Truth be told – there are far easier and cheaper ways to hack your phone, than send you a free RFID sticker and ask you to scan the bar code.
These scammers will have to put in considerable expense and technical expertise into hacking the TNG eWallet app, and inserting their malware that the fake RFID number would trigger.
But why bother? If they can hack the TNG eWallet, they don’t even need to send you any fake RFID bar code to scan!
Making fake RFID stickers (tags) that look like genuine TNG RFID self-fitment kits costs money. Sending these fake kits also put them at risk, because deliveries can be traced.
There are many other ways to compromise your smartphone. There is simply no reason why scammers to waste time and money on such a convoluted scheme.
The most plausible explanation for receiving a free TNG RFID sticker out of the blue is that it was wrongly delivered to you. If you receive one, check the name and address on the package. It may not be meant for you. In that case, contact the delivery company and have them resend it to the right person.
I have also personally experienced receiving packages that I did not order, some of which appear to be sent due to a database error of some sort – my name and phone number are on the package, but the address was wrong or non-existent.
Out of an abundance of caution, just don’t install any RFID sticker that you did not order. Or you can call up TNG to verify that the RFID sticker is legitimate.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Is the MyKasih Foundation giving out RM1000 or RM1200 cash aid via its mobile app?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Get Free Cash Via MyKasih App!
Many people are getting messages about getting free cash through the MyKasih Foundation on WhatsApp and Telegram, from their family members and friends:
Terkini: Bantuan Percuma RM1000 Ke Dalam MyKad : Rujuk Cara Semakan & Syarat Kelayakan
Latest: Free RM1000 Assistance Into MyKad : How To Check & Eligibility Conditions
Jom claim RM1200
MyKasih Foundation : Cek MyKad Boleh Dapat Wang RM1000 Secara Percuma
MyKasih Foundation : Check MyKad To Get Free RM1000
Bantuan Tambahan STR 2023 MySARA RM800: Semakan Status & Tarikh Bayaran
Additional STR 2023 MySARA Assistance RM800: Check Status & Payment Date
This is yet another example of SCAMS circulating on WhatsApp and Telegram, and here are reasons why…
Fact #1 : MyKasih Free Cash Initiative Is A Scam!
First, let me just point out that these messages on WhatsApp and Telegram, as well as the websites promoting the MyKasih free cash initiative is a scam!
The Malaysian government have already labelled these free cash offers as FAKE NEWS on Facebook and Twitter. Here is a non-exhaustive list of links that have been identified as scam links:
my.mykasihh.online
l.my-kasihapp.com
apps-mykasih.co/twe
There’s no need to memorise these links. These scammers will keep changing them.
Just know that the official MyKasih website is www.mykasih.com.my. Do NOT go to any other website when it comes to the MyKasih Foundation website.
Fact #2 : Those Accounts Were Hijacked
Those viral messages are actually coming from WhatsApp and Telegram accounts that have been hijacked by scammers. That’s why they are so convincing.
Those are really the actual WhatsApp and Telegram accounts of your family members or friends. But they have been taken over by scammers using tricks like the screenshot hack.
Take this opportunity to tighten the security of your own Telegram and WhatsApp accounts, by turning on two-step verification!
As part of its initiative to help the hardcore poor handle the high inflation this year, the Malaysia Ministry of Finance announced SARA (Sumbangan Asas Rahmah).
However, the SARA cash aid is only RM600, and limited to the hardcore poor. There is no way for anyone to get RM800, RM1000 or RM1,200 in SARA cash aid from the government.
RM100 x 6 months is credited directly into the MyKad of eligible hardcore poor, allowing them to purchase a limited list of essential goods from grocery stores and supermarkets across Malaysia, from July to December 2023.
In Sabah and Sarawak, the RM600 is credited directly into the bank account, or provided as cash through Bank Simpanan Nasional branches.
Fact #4 : SARA Recipients Are Automatically Selected
There is no need to apply for SARA cash aid. For one thing – it only applies to the hardcore poor. If you are reading this on a computer or a smartphone, you very likely do not qualify as “hardcore poor”.
SARA recipients are automatically determined using the existing eKasih Hardcore Poor data, and includes those who had earlier qualified for the STR 2023 cash aid.
Fact #5 : Real Website Asks Only For Your MyKad
Qualification for the SARA cash aid of RM600 is based entirely on your MyKad number.
On the official Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) website, you can check for your eligibility using your MyKad number only.
The fake websites look just like the real SARA website, but instead of asking for your MyKad number, they will ask you for your mobile number and ask you to submit a TAC number.
Needless to say – these are scam websites. You should NEVER submit your phone number or any TAC codes.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has been found guilty and convicted on all counts of defrauding customers of his crypto-exchange, FTX!
Sam Bankman-Fried Convicted : Guilty Of FTX Fraud!
Sam Bankman-Fried, who is also known simply as SBF, has been found guilty on all counts of defrauding the customers of his crypto-exchange, FTX, on Thursday, 2 November 2023.
The former crypto billionaire stood and faced the jury that delivered its verdict after just four hours of deliberations. He was found guilt on all seven counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to launder money, and now faces decades in prison at a separate sentencing hearing set for 28 March 2024.
The jury verdict brought an end to nearly a month of court proceedings, which saw his closest friends and partners turn witness against the former crypto king, and one of cryptocurrency’s most public faces.
Sam Bankman-Fried perpetrated one of the biggest financial frauds in American history – a multibillion-dollar scheme designed to make him the King of Crypto. This case has always been about lying, cheating, and stealing, and we have no patience for it.
– Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams
SBF maintained his innocence right to the end, maintaining that while he made mistakes, he acted in good faith. After his conviction, his lawyer issued this statement:
We respect the jury’s decision. But we are very disappointed with the result. Mr Bankman-Fried maintains his innocence and will continue to vigorously fight the charges against him
– Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyer, Mark Cohen
It is currently unknown if SBF plans to appeal the verdict. In any case, this won’t be the last we see of him, as Bankman-Fried is also set to go on trial on a second set of charges brought by prosecutors earlier this year, for alleged foreign bribery and bank fraud conspiracies.
Sam Bankman-Fried Conviction : Warning To Other Fraudsters
After the jury convicted SBF, Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams warned other fraudsters to take note of his fate.
When I became US attorney, I promised we would be relentless in rooting out corruption in our financial markets. This is what relentless looks like. This case moved at lightning speed – that was not a coincidence, that was a choice.
This case is also a warning to every fraudster who thinks they’re untouchable, that their crimes are too complex for us to catch, that they are too powerful to prosecute, or that they are clever enough to talk their way out of it if caught.
Those folks should think again and cut it out. And if they don’t, I promise we’ll have enough handcuffs for all of them.
Sam Bankman-Fried’s conviction was all but guaranteed after three of his former close friends and colleagues, including former on-off girlfriend, Caroline Ellison, pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against him in hopes of reducing their own sentences. They are to be sentenced at a later date.
They helped convict SBF by presenting evidence that the crypto-trading firm Alameda Research received deposits on behalf of FTX customers from the early days of the exchange, when traditional banks were unwilling to let it open an account.
Bankman-Fried was accused of swindling FTX customers out of some $10bn. Prosecutors said that his fraud extended from 2019 to November 2022, when FTX collapsed under the weight of a liquidity crisis, caused by the lending of customer funds to Alameda Research, without FTX customer’s knowledge or approval.
Instead of safeguarding FTX customer funds, SBF used the money to repay Alameda lenders, buy property and make investments, as well as political donations. When FTX went bankrupt in November 2022, Alameda owed it US$8 billion.
He took the money. He knew it was wrong. He did it anyway, because he thought he was smarter and better and that he could figure his way out of it.
Before FTX’s collapse of his companies, Sam Bankman-Fried was known for appearing frequently in Washington and in the media to promote cryptocurrency. Despite a market downturn, the rapid growth of FTX earned him the moniker – king of crypto, which now appears to be a mirage.
Caroline Ellison testified that Sam Bankman-Fried directed her to shuttle customer funds into Alameda after the spring 2022 crypto downturn. Alameda was saddled with billions of dollars in open-term loans, and lenders started demanding their money back that summer. Alameda couldn’t repay the loans, and Bankman-Fried blamed Ellison for not hedging the fund’s money earlier that year.
Wang similarly implicated his former friend, naming “Sam Bankman-Fried, Nishad Singh and Caroline Ellison”, when the prosecution asked, “Who are the main people you committed these crimes with?”
Wang also told jurors that Sam Bankman-Fried wasn’t shocked by FTX’s massive debt. After telling him about the debt, SBF said “that sounds correct” with “a neutral demeanor”.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Truth : It’s Not Dangerous To Exit WhatsApp Scam Groups!
This viral warning was likely created by well-meaning but clueless Internet “experts” who are apparently not tech-savvy enough to understand what’s going on.
Fact #1 : No Evidence Of WhatsApp Exit Group Hacking
First, let me just point out that there is no evidence that anyone was ever hacked after using the Exit Group link to get out of any WhatsApp group, whether they are scam groups or otherwise.
Even if an enterprising hacker / scammer was able to create a message with a fake Exit Group button that downloads an APK (Android Package Kit) file, it won’t automatically install that file. You will need to manually install the APK file from the Downloads folder.
Those who know how to do that would be tech-savvy enough to avoid installing APK files from unknown sources. Those who don’t know how to do that would not be able to install the downloaded APK file.
Fact #2 : WhatsApp Exit Group Option Is Genuine
The truth is – the Exit Group link that you may see in new messages from strangers is not a scam or a trick. It also does not download or install any APK file.
The Exit Group link is actually a safety feature in WhatsApp, that appears if you have been added to a WhatsApp group by someone who is not in your contact list – like a scammer, for example.
Once you open the new group you have been added to, WhatsApp warns you that you were added by someone who isn’t a contact. You are then given the option to exit the group, or click OK to continue.
There is really nothing malicious about this Exit group link in WhatsApp. Clicking on it to exit any WhatsApp group won’t harm you in any way, or cause your phone to be hacked.
The WhatsApp Exit group link offers an easy way to quickly remove yourself from a group you don’t want to be in. However, the older exit group methods still work, in case you prefer to use them:
Exit Group Only
Go into the group chat you wish to leave.
Tap on the kebab menu / vertical ellipsis (⋮) icon on the upper right corner.
Select More > Exit group.
An even better option is to actually report the scam group, while quitting it and removing the chat at the same time.
Report + Exit Group Only
Go into the group chat you wish to leave.
Tap on the kebab menu / vertical ellipsis (⋮) icon on the upper right corner.
Select More > Report
Make sure the Exit group and delete chat option is checked.
Tap Report to report and quit from the group, and delete the chat.
Fact #4 : WhatsApp + Telegram Scam Groups Are Real
Before I leave, I just want to remind all of you that there are many scam groups on WhatsApp and Telegram.
If you are added to any of these scam groups, just exit them without a thought. Do not read anything posted in these scam groups, lest you fall for the scam!
That’s why scammers often try to convince you to check out the group first, and “don’t rush to leave the group”:
Hello everyone! Please don’t rush to leave the group, thank you all for taking the time to read this message!
Ignore whatever they post in those scam groups. Hit the Exit group link, or better still – REPORT the group to WhatsApp / Telegram!
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.