Free laptop scam alert: WhatsApp message offering free laptops to students is fake; can lead to loss of money

Scam

WhatsApp users across the country may have received a new message that claims to give free laptops to eligible students as a part of an ongoing Free Laptops Scheme 2024. The message claims that the scheme is available for all students who cannot afford a laptop due to financial reasons. The message also asks users to fill up a form by clicking on the link provided in the message. PIB Fact Check has highlighted that this message is fake and a scam.

Here’s what the WhatsApp message reads:

The Applications for the Students Laptop
Scheme 2024 ls Available
This scheme is open to all students who for financial reasons are not in a position to purchase a laptop of their own and are in need of laptop in their level of education.
In 2024 Over 960,000 students will be given free laptop to enhance their learning
Application has began and students that have applied have started getting their laptops
Register and apply here
https://lc.ke/Students-FREE-LAPTOP

Free Laptop Scheme for Students message is a scam

PIB Fact Check has confirmed that this message circulating via WhatsApp is fake and is a scammers’ new way to trap their target. The government’s fact-check platform has also advised people that they should “Never click on such suspicious links” and “Be cautious while sharing personal information.”

How does this scam work
According to the image shared by the PIB Fact Check on social media platform X, users are supposed to click on the link provided in the message and fill up the form by entering some personal and educational details. This scam is all about collecting users' data so that it can be used to run other types of scams and financial frauds.

How to avoid such scams
Apart from not clicking on random links shared by some random account on WhatsApp and other platforms, there are a couple of other things that you can keep in mind.

First and foremost, make sure to verify any such government scheme via an official website. Next, you should never enter your details on random websites.

These links may come with some virus or malware programs that can get installed in your system anonymously and steal your personal data, login information and other sensitive details.