CLAIM: A viral WhatsApp message that has been circulating claims UNICEF is recruiting.

VERDICT: FALSE

The message making the claim contains a link http://archive.today/2023.04.15-110154/https://unicef-recruitment.offernow.online/ which directs to the UNICEF-impersonated page

The site, which appears as https://unicef-recruitment.offernow.online/, also attempts to impersonate the UNICEF’s original website.

The impostor website asks users to fill in personal information as part of the recruitment process. The information required on the ‘Application Form’ include the user’s name, phone number, email, country and state, then, click ‘Apply’ which takes the user to the next page, where the user has to click on `continue, stating that his/her application to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is now on the process and then it takes the user to another page where the user is required to validate their names and state the level of education and then ‘Send’.

It will then congratulate the user, adding that it should send the link to 5 groups or 15 people on WhatsApp to receive a confirmation email.

This sequencing is consistent with phishing scams designed to mine personal information.

VERIFICATION:

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) found out that the recruitment exercise was false.

The logo on the original UNICEF is different from that of the imposter, it has the image of two children painted in white inserted into the logo of a sketched globe with two leaf-like images all in white with a blue background. Whereas, the imposter’s website has all these in blue colour with a white background.

Also, the slogan of UNICEF on its original website is ‘for every child’, but the imposter’s website has the slogan ‘unite for children’.

The WHOIS information of the imposter website shows that it was registered July 1, 2022, and update on April 20, 2023 in Iceland and is identified as ‘Namecheap’.

On the other hand, the WHOIS information of the UNICEF’s legitimate website shows that it was registered March 10, 1993 at New York in the United States of America. Legitimate domains are usually older than impostor domains.

NAN also found out that UNICEF had issued a disclaimer on its website warning against the activities of fraudsters, which reads;

“UNICEF only advertises its employment opportunities on its global Careers website and the Vacancies page, or on the websites of its National Committees.

“UNICEF also utilizes bona fide and established media, newspapers, as well as online professional platforms (e.g. LinkedIn) and job boards to disseminate its vacancies. All job offers are made by UNICEF human resources personnel following a competitive process.

“Beware if an offer of employment looks too good to be true (see below an example of fraud). Never divulge personal and banking information or send money if you are unsure of the authenticity of an email or other communication in the name of UNICEF.

“Financial loss and identity theft could result from the sending of money or personal information to those issuing such fraudulent correspondence.

“If you fall victim to fraud, it is recommended that you contact immediately local law enforcement authorities. If you wish to report any potential fraudulent activities related to UNICEF, please contact UNICEF’s Office of Internal Audit and Investigations,” the statement read in part.

VERDICT; NAN found that the claim being circulated on WhatsApp on UNICEF recruitment is FALSE (NAN)

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