In the context of the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel, Bangladesh-based Akij Food & Beverage Ltd. announced in 2023 that for every bottle of its soft drink brand “Mojo” sold, BDT 1 (approximately $0.01) would be donated to Palestine. Against this backdrop, a claim has circulated widely on social media stating: “It’s a misconception that just buying Mojo will result in a BDT 1 donation to Palestine. Simply drinking Mojo doesn’t count. You must scan the barcode on the bottle and type ’‘OK’—only then will BDT 1 go to their fund. Drinking Mojo all day is pointless unless you scan the barcode. Not a single taka will be transferred to their account without completing the scan process. Those who drink Mojo must scan the barcode using a mobile device to complete the process. Share this with everyone.”
Fact-Check
An investigation by the Rumor Scanner team reveals that merely purchasing Mojo is sufficient for contributing to the Palestine fund. The donation has no connection with whether the QR code on the bottle is scanned or not.
As the misinformation suggesting that scanning the QR code is a prerequisite for donation began to spread, Rumor Scanner initiated an inquiry. At the beginning of the investigation, the QR code on a Mojo bottle was scanned using Google Lens to determine what information it contained. The code directed to a website related to Mojo’s Palestine donation campaign — wesupportpalestine.net — where fund updates are displayed.
Scanning the QR code simply takes users to a website showing the current status of the fund. It does not activate or contribute to the donation process. Later, a cautionary post regarding this misinformation was found on Mojo’s official Facebook page.
Essentially, Akij Food & Beverage Ltd. included a QR code on the bottle to ensure transparency and facilitate access to fund updates. The code leads to a webpage where anyone can view the amount collected. The act of scanning or not scanning the QR code has no impact on whether the BDT 1 donation is made.
Notably, a similar claim based on fabricated sources had previously spread across the internet, prompting Rumor Scanner to publish a fact-check report at the time.
Original News Source: https://rumorscanner.com/quick-fact/false-claim-mojo-1-tk-donation-palestine/146050
Clickbait chaos: The viral loop of fake news in the age of algorithms
Filtering out the truth from a sea of misinformation
Fact-checking: A pressing necessity in Bangladesh
From rumors to real-world consequences: The perils of misinformation
Separating fact from fiction
Misinformation and disinformation: A threat to democracy in Bangladesh
Fact-Check Alert
Please be aware of misleading information about Bangladesh politics on social media and verify sources before sharing.
Before sharing any photocard, always verify it by checking the original media source.
Sharing religious misinformation and disinformation can cause harm. Always verify before sharing.
Before sharing any photocard, always verify it by checking the original media source.
Sharing religious misinformation and disinformation can cause harm. Always verify before sharing.