Claim: Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio gives 20GB free data to everyone as a victory celebration for ECOWAS chair election
Source: WhatsApp
Verdict: Hoax
Researched by Idrissa Bangura
A WhatsApp post claiming Sierra Leoneans can receive 20 gigabytes of data as a gift from President Julius Maada Bio made the rounds following his election as chairman of the regional bloc, ECOWAS.
An attached link, when clicked leads to a homepage with a message stating: “PRESIDENT JULIUS MAADA BIO ECOWAS ELECTION GIFTS. This service allows you to activate 20GB free Data And Get Free Recharge Voucher. This works perfectly on all devices.”
The next page requires the applicant to enter their phone number and select their mobile network. It shows options of networks like Orange, Qcell, and Africell, and asks applicants to press confirm.
After clicking the confirmation button, the next page shows a congratulatory message with a message that reads: “Congratulations (the number you entered earlier). You are Eligible To Get Free 20GB. How to Proceed:
1. Share with 6 Groups or 15 friends on WhatsApp (click the “SHARE” icon below)
2. You will be redirected automatically to our result page after the BLUE verification bar is filled.
3. You will also receive 20GB confirmation by SMS in 10 minutes.”
To further convince the applicant, comments from different accounts claiming to have received 20GB of free data are displayed below
Fact-Check
Steps to access the link proved that the site is available and active.
To investigate the URL, the Ghost Archive platform was used to check if there was a website with the same URL on the platform, but no result was found.
FactSpace Sierra Leone also investigated the link by running it through Virustotal, a security website that scans links and files for malicious code. The scan declared the link malicious and malware
IBM.com defines ‘malware’ as any program designed to harm computer systems and their users.
WHOIS information of the domain petiofre.org reveals that the website was registered on 25th March 2025, updated on the 30th March 2025, and it is set to expire on March 25th, 2026.
In response to this malicious link, Chernor Bah, Information and Civic Education Minister of Sierra Leone, confirmed the link to be “Fake” when contacted by FactSpace.
The clarification made by Chernor Bah that no “Free Data” is being gifted to anyone through such a link makes the claim a hoax. He further admonished the public to stay clear of the misinformation.
Verdict
Therefore, the link is malicious and the WhatsApp message is a HOAX targeted at scamming unsuspecting persons.
How to avoid being a victim of malicious links
- Avoid the Link: Refrain from clicking on malicious links or sharing them with others.
- Stay Alert to Phishing Scams: Phishing links are often presented in offers of financial aid, rewards, or prizes. Always verify the source of such a message through trusted channels before engaging.
- Report Suspicious Content: Flag suspicious links on social media to help prevent others from falling victim to the scam.
Note: Idrissa Bangura is a member of the 2025 cohort of the FactSpace West Africa volunteerism project in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia and The Gambia.
