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A viral message making the rounds on various social media platforms (see here, here, here, here and here) suggests that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Bin Salman, is offering sponsorship for Muslims who wish to perform this year’s Hajj.
The message which was posted by this website said 750,000 people will be given the opportunity to perform Hajj with free transport and accommodation. But when you click the link, the website puts the number at 95,000 people.
It encouraged applicants from all nations to apply for the sponsorship which it said is funded by the Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation.
The message adds that those who have applied for the free Hajj have started getting their passports.
Fact-check Ghana has verified the claim and presents the findings as follows.
Claim: “Salam alaikum, The Applications for the Mohammed Bin Salman Free Hajj Sponsorship 2024 Is Available”
Verdict: False
Explanation:
To verify the claim, Fact-check Ghana first visited the official website of the Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation to confirm if there was any such announcement, but there was nothing like that on the portal at the time of the visit.
Further checks on the internet reveal a similar message which was sent out last year inviting applicants to apply for the sponsorship. Pesacheck and bolnews verified the claim and found same to be a scam and a hoax.
Bexpress also verified the 2024 viral message and found it to be a scam without any truth about the purported free Hajj sponsorship.
Arabnews published a report on April 16, 2023, in which Saudi authorities warned prospective pilgrims to be wary of Hajj and Umrah online scams.
To authenticate the website that published and shared the information, Fact-check Ghana searched on Whois which revealed that the website was created in Oyo State in Nigeria on August 22, 2023.
Fact-check Ghana used a pseudonym and other personal details belonging to no one, in particular, to try to go through the registration process.
After filling out the form, it takes you to the next page where it tells you the number of users whose applications have been approved and asks you to continue. The next page requires you to enter your full name and whether you have an international passport.
When you fill out and click on send, it takes you to the final page where you are congratulated for qualifying for the Mohammed Bin Salman Hajj Sponsorship Scheme 2024.
However, to proceed beyond this stage you need to share it with five groups or 15 friends on WhatsApp. This is characteristic of hoax websites. The message concludes that an applicant who completes the application and shares the information will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours.
In conclusion, the viral message making rounds on social media indicating that the Saudi Crown Prince is offering sponsorship for Muslims who wish to perform this year’s Hajj is false.
