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How scammers took advantage of #BlueForSudan
After a Sudanese protester was killed, there was a wave of sympathy on social media – but scammers took advantage.
In early June, 26-year-old activist Mohamed Mattar was shot and killed in Khartoum. He was one of 100 protesters who died in a government crackdown on a sit-in.
Blue was his favourite colour, and at the time of his death, the avatar on his social media pages displayed a deep shade similar to the colour of the ocean.
Some of Mohamed’s friends and family changed their avatars to the same colour that he used. Within days, a worldwide movement had started: #BlueForSudan.
But along with the authentic outpouring of support came scammers who used the trend to harvest likes, shares and followers.
So how did “sympathy scammers” exploit the crisis for their own benefit? We speak to the teenage boy who took them on.
Presenters: Jonathan Griffin and Reha Kansara
(Photo caption: Some of the fake accounts / Photo credit: Instagram)
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By BBC World Service
4.6
4444 ratings
After a Sudanese protester was killed, there was a wave of sympathy on social media – but scammers took advantage.
In early June, 26-year-old activist Mohamed Mattar was shot and killed in Khartoum. He was one of 100 protesters who died in a government crackdown on a sit-in.
Blue was his favourite colour, and at the time of his death, the avatar on his social media pages displayed a deep shade similar to the colour of the ocean.
Some of Mohamed’s friends and family changed their avatars to the same colour that he used. Within days, a worldwide movement had started: #BlueForSudan.
But along with the authentic outpouring of support came scammers who used the trend to harvest likes, shares and followers.
So how did “sympathy scammers” exploit the crisis for their own benefit? We speak to the teenage boy who took them on.
Presenters: Jonathan Griffin and Reha Kansara
(Photo caption: Some of the fake accounts / Photo credit: Instagram)
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