Image Courtesy: Namibia Fact Check / WhatsApp
A viral message falsely promoting an “empowerment grant” from an entity that denies offering such a grant has been circulating in WhatsApp groups for months
The post containing the false grant claim was first forwarded to Namibia Fact Check in December 2023 and then six times more through January 2024.
According to the post, an entity called the African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum is apparently offering an “empowerment grant” for students and business owners for 2023/24.
The viral posts states:
“The application form for the African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum 2023/2024 is out
The application form for the African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum 2023|2024 empowerment grant is out online.
Payments have just started for all applicants. Register to be one of the beneficiaries.
Strictly for students and business owners.
Apply Here …..”
The Facts
African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) is a South Africa-based non-profit organisation that apparently supports women entrepreneurs across Africa to grow their businesses and fulfil their potential.
Namibia Fact Check contacted AWIEF via email regarding the viral post and a spokesperson for the organisation replied that the WhatsApp post was a scam. The full AWIEF response states:
The organisation also has posts from 8 January 2024 on its Facebook and Instagram pages denying any connection to the viral “empowerment grant” post. The AWIEF social media posts state:
“Please be aware that this is not in any way a communication from AWIEF. Kindly refrain from acting on, disclosing information or forwarding the message.
AWIEF shall not be responsible for any damages arising out of engagement with the scam message.
Please visit the legitimate AWIEF website at https://www.awieforum.org/”
The scam post appears to be a phishing scam, that impersonates a real entity, in order to steal personal information from people who click through to the linked webpage where personal information will be collected from those who engage and provide such information.