Disinformation about Russia and Ukraine can be detected in six ways

Do you want to help the people of Ukraine? To assist stop bogus fundraisers on the internet, use sensible media literacy skills. As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine proceeds, social media users throughout the world share posts outlining methods to assist Ukrainians. Some ask for protests, some for prayers and thoughts, but there are a lot of requests for money, which might be a hazardous method to demonstrate your support.

We asked you not to transfer money to somebody you’ve never met in person via the internet on Valentine’s Day. Although I recognize that the current crisis in Eastern Europe is far more complex than a case of lonely hearts, I reiterate my previous warnings. Don’t send money to people you don’t know over the internet.

Keep in mind that anyone on the other side of the screen may be you. Is the Instagram user who claims to be in a conflict zone real? Or is it a 21-year-old from Kentucky who is repurposing ancient military film in order to profit off human suffering? It’s possible to make a lot of money and earn a lot of clout by distributing false information online. Don’t fall for the ruse.

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How to Recognize Disinformation Techniques and Avoid Completing Their Scams

1-Ignore follower counts and instead seek out high-quality followers.

Meme accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok fast gain millions of followers, with a mixture of bots and real individuals. Having a large number of followers does not imply that you are legitimate. Followed by government officials or journalists from major news organizations, a credible account is a good sign.

2-Make sure you’re getting the information you need from the media you’re watching.

Photos from earlier wars or military exercises may be used by accounts propagating disinformation about the present Russia-Ukraine crisis, which you may locate and debunk with a simple reverse image search. Video is an entirely different beast. Because it’s more difficult to swiftly uncover bogus videos on social media, a lot of scammers and sham artists use it. No film is off limits for a deception campaign, from video game graphics to recent videos from prior invasions.

Pay attention to these cautions and treat all streaming footage ostensibly from war zones and broadcast by social media accounts with caution. “What does this person stand to gain by posting this video?” you might wonder. In between conflict video, many of these live-streaming accounts host fundraisers or market pornographic Only Fans accounts, which is a huge red flag.

3-Think twice before sharing.

You have a voice, even if you only have a few followers or subscribers. Every link you share and every photo or video you retweet gains credibility in your network of friends. Only share information from verified government accounts or verified news media to keep everyone safe. Bloggers have the right to say whatever they want, but they can also use their opinions to colour information. Stick to the facts while posting posts that are relevant to another person’s life or death.

4-Ignore the button for a fundraiser.

Most social media networks allow anyone to start a legitimate-looking fundraiser in a matter of seconds. If you wish to help the Ukrainian military, go to the country’s Twitter account and follow the instructions there.

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5-Avoid DMs at all costs.

Do not react to a private message from someone you don’t know urging you to follow an account, click a link for additional information, or donate to their cause. Simply file a report, place a block, and move on.

6-Follow the money wherever it leads.

If a Twitch streamer, for example, requests for donations to aid Ukraine, don’t be shy about questioning how they plan to deliver the money to the people who need it in the conversation. If the fundraiser is legitimate, the streamer will be able to explain their method of revenue disbursement via an official channel, such as the Ukrainian government’s financial linkages.

Scammers love to play on their victims’ emotions, and emotions are running high online right now. In the long term, constant monitoring and taking the time to check charities and accounts online may save you money and restore your faith in humanity.