Last updated on December 1st, 2023 at 10:42 am

Charity Full Fact discovers over 1,200 deceptive posts covering subjects ranging from lethal snakes to unsolved serial killers.

A recent study has revealed that members of local Facebook groups have been subjected to a barrage of hoax posts, encompassing fabricated reports about missing children and dangerous snakes roaming free. Full Fact, a charity focused on fact-checking, has identified over 1,200 deceptive posts within the social media platform’s community groups worldwide. The charity cautions that these findings likely represent only a fraction of the overall problem.

These misleading posts have the potential to inundate individuals with erroneous information, purposefully crafted to invoke fear within local communities, according to Full Fact. This dynamic could lead to authentic posts regarding genuine dangers being disregarded. The motivation behind the dissemination of such content remains unclear, although Full Fact postulates that it might be connected to monetary gain or the promotion of products and services. Frequently, posts are edited post-engagement to endorse a variety of offerings, ranging from cashback platforms to diaper giveaways.

Full Fact’s comprehensive investigation has pinpointed misinformation across more than 100 regions in the UK, spanning from Dundee in Scotland to Bicester. In a notable instance in Dundee, it was even suggested last year that a serial killer might be on the loose.

Instances of individuals falsely imploring for assistance in locating missing dogs or children have also come to light. A hoax Facebook post about an injured dog purportedly discovered following a “hit and run incident” in Dunfermline garnered the attention of hundreds, with many sharing the misinformation.

Full Fact’s investigation uncovered a significant portion of the circulated content revolving around cases of missing children and elderly individuals. Other reports propagated claims of serial killers and knife-wielding men prowling the streets.

The inquiry revealed numerous posts asserting the presence of a knife-wielding man engaged in attacks across various locations, including Aberdeenshire, Bicester, Chesterfield, Glasgow, and Northern Ireland. Additionally, the charity encountered numerous instances of the same false claim circulating internationally, spanning regions such as the US and Australia. Law enforcement agencies from multiple jurisdictions confirmed the inaccuracy of these claims.

Back in April, Full Fact alerted Meta, the parent company of Facebook, about these deceptive practices, emphasizing the substantial dangers associated with these posts. The charity advocated for more robust actions from Meta to proactively identify and combat this escalating trend. However, no response was received.

In 2021, Facebook introduced changes to its management of public groups, allowing members to join without requiring administrator approval. Full Fact cautioned that this alteration potentially rendered local groups more susceptible to participation from outsiders, even though administrators still retained the ability to moderate posts and comments.

Steve Nowottny, Editor of Full Fact, expressed astonishment at the “sheer magnitude” of the identified hoax posts, suggesting that the ones discovered were probably just “the tip of the iceberg.” He noted that these hoaxers were evidently aware of the considerable impact these posts could achieve, leading to an inundation of false information within local Facebook groups globally.

Nowottny remarked that these deceptive posts foster unnecessary fear and bewilderment, casting terror upon local communities. Consequently, genuine alerts about hazards and authentic pleas for help, such as those seeking missing loved ones or lost pets, now face a heightened risk of being dismissed.

Lynne Parker, who oversees a dedicated Facebook group that exposes fraudulent posts about missing dogs, shared her exasperation with these counterfeit posts. She lamented the detrimental impact on genuine dog owners or those who locate lost pets, who are now unjustly accused of spreading misinformation.

When Facebook users click on links within edited hoax posts, they often find themselves redirected to the official website of a genuine company or organization. However, this redirection occurs through an unrelated third-party website, utilizing an affiliate link that generates a small commission.

Certain modified posts contain exaggerated assertions about legitimate businesses. As an illustration, edited posts endorsing the legitimate platform Cashback UK declare that users can pocket substantial sums, such as hundreds of pounds for accomplishing a solitary task or £150 as a “sign-up bonus.”

In response, Cashback UK informed Full Fact that attaining such high earnings through a single task on its platform is implausible.

A representative from Meta stated, “We have established the most extensive global network of fact-checkers among all platforms, collaborating with over 90 independent fact-checking organizations, including Full Fact, to combat online misinformation.”

The spokesperson continued, “Deceptive activities are prohibited on our platforms, and we have taken down the posts highlighted by Full Fact for violating our Community Standards.”

Acknowledging the imperfections in enforcement, the spokesperson emphasized that ongoing investments are being made in novel technologies to curtail scams and apprehend those responsible for them.