“This is how the people in Canada are informed” - This is the way chain letters on the corona virus begin, which consumer advocates are now warning about.
- There are numerous false reports of the corona virus circulating on WhatsApp.
- Consumer sites warn against chain letters.
- Some of the fakes contain incorrect medical information.
Chain letters circulate daily on WhatsApp . Puzzles, tips, expressions of friendship - or even with content on current topics of interest. Only: This content is usually incorrect. So also in the case of many circular emails about the corona virus , which are now sent from smartphone to smartphone. Some of them contain dangerous incorrect information and cause uncertainty.
Dangerous WhatsApp chain letters on the corona virus: "Uncle and niece ..."
The page for online users verbraucherschutz.com points this out. Various chain letters that are circulating on WhatsApp are currently being compiled there. One of the latest coups is an alleged translation of the instructions as issued in Canada. All nonsense, it says on the page. But the list is even longer: whether it's about secret information that the creators of the YouTube channel Odysseus want to know (without knowing facts) or about the simply life-threatening rumor of consuming disinfectants.
Consumer advocates and doctors warn on all channels and in videos of the confusing false statements and try to counter this with clear statements:
Chain letters about the corona virus on WhatsApp: incorrect information from Canada, China and Co.
A currently particularly popular chain letter about the corona virus begins with the words: “My classmate's uncle and niece have a master's degree and work at the Shenzhen Hospital. He is brought to Wuhan to examine the pneumonia virus. ”The following text, with some translation errors, then describes symptoms and alleged facts, such as that the virus does not survive at temperatures above 26 degrees.
Considering that the body temperature of healthy people is around 36 degrees, questions may arise. Consumer protection.com rates these spam chain letters all the more dangerous, since they often contain supposed doctor tips and therefore gullible and unstable people could take them seriously. In the example with disinfectants with devastating consequences.
WhatsApp chain letter with doctor's tip on coronavirus? Important information or incorrect information? https://t.co/w5HOsmlorV
- Consumer Protection.com (@onlinewarnings) March 9, 2020Merkur.de * has compiled official information about the corona virus and provides information on measures and rules of conduct, as well as the current state of research.
Also read what the popular WhatsApp messenger costs, how to use it on a PC and how companies can use WhatsApp.
The biscuit manufacturer Bahlsen is currently struggling with racism allegations. Now the company announces a reaction that leads to conflict.
* Merkur.de is part of the Germany-wide Ippen-Digital editors network.