Fake Posts and Reports in Facebook Groups Cause Concern

Researchers have found that members of local Facebook groups have been exposed to hundreds of fake messages, including false reports of missing children or deadly snakes, a new study has found.

UK fact-checking charity Full Fact found more than 1,200 false posts on social media community groups around the world and warned that these were likely just the “tip of the iceberg”, reports The Guardian.

Researchers say these deceptive messages, designed to instill fear in communities, can overwhelm users with false information, potentially overshadowing genuine warnings and appeals.

The researchers speculated that the motive for spreading this content could be financial gain or promoting products/services.

While this misinformation was common in the UK, similar messages were found in the US and Australia.

In addition, the researchers found that much of the content shared was about missing children and senior citizens. Other reports said serial killers and men armed with knives stalked the streets.

The investigation uncovered several posts alleging that a man armed with a knife attacked people in several cities.

“Scammers have clearly recognized the massive reach of these messages, and local Facebook groups around the world are now awash with misinformation,” said Steve Nowottny, editor of Full Fact.

“Genuine warnings of danger and genuine messages from people who are desperate for help, such as those looking for missing loved ones or missing pets, are now at a much greater risk of being ignored,” he added.

According to experts, Facebook users who click on the links in the crafted scam messages are often directed to the real website of a legitimate company or organization, but they make it to an independent third-party website and

affiliate link that earns a small fee.

“We’ve built the largest global fact-checking network of any platform, working with more than 90 independent fact-checking organizations, including Full Fact, to combat misinformation online,” a Meta spokesperson said.

“Fraudulent behavior is not allowed on our platforms, and we removed Full Fact messages that came to our attention for violations of community rules. While no enforcement is perfect, we continue to invest in new technology to prevent scams and the people behind them,” it added.