A message is being widely shared on social media, according to which, a video will soon start circulating on WhatsApp. The content of the message will be about Coronavirus cases coming down in Argentina and this will actually be a trap to hack into smartphones.
The viral message read: “Just a heads up…They are going to start circulating a video on WhatsApp that shows how the Covid19 curve is flattening in Argentina. The file is called “Argentina is doing it”, do not open it or see it, it hacks your phone in 10 seconds and it cannot be stopped in any way. Pass the information on to your family and friends. Now they also said it on CNN”
Interestingly, the message ends claiming that even CNN reported about the trap.
The viral message is being widely shared on WhatsApp.
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FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the above message and found it to be FAKE.
We started our investigation by running keywords such as ‘Covid19 curve’, ‘flattening in Argentina’, ‘Argentina is doing it’, ‘WhatsApp’, ‘CNN’ through a Google search. We didn’t find any authentic report or alert by any credible source.
On digging further, we found several such WhatsApp forwards scaring users of possible hacking attempts.
Meanwhile, we found no such report on CNN about the viral claim.
In conclusion, it is safe to say that the viral message in circulation is FAKE.
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