The Saudi Hajj and Umrah Ministry urged pilgrims to only use its official social media accounts.

This POST claiming that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is sponsoring Muslims who are financially unable to perform Hajj in 2024 is a HOAX.

The post reads: “*Salam alaikum, The Applications for the Mohammed Bin Salman Free Hajj Sponsorship 2024 Is Available* This scheme is open to all muslims who for financial reasons are not in a position to afford hajj this year *Over 750,000 muslims will be given the opportunity to do hajj(Free transport and accomodation)* *Application has began and those that have applied have started getting their passports* Register and apply here.”

Hajj is the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. In 2024, the pilgrimage is expected to take place between 14 and 19 June. The dates may vary depending on the sighting of the moon.

The post suggests that over 750,000 Muslims will receive complimentary transport and accommodation for Hajj.

The link provided directs users to fill out a form by providing their details, including name, phone number, email address, and age and indicate if they have a passport to proceed.

The link to the website has been shared on multiple Facebook and WhatsApp groups in Somalia includes  Nigeria

Early in 2024, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah advised that authentic information should be sought directly from its official website and social media channels, such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.

PesaCheck visited the official sites of the ministry and found no indication that the Saudi Crown Prince was offering free sponsorships for the 2024 Hajj.

The ministry gave guideline on how visitors can protect themselves from financial scams.

Additionally, the Pakistan Observer reported Hisham Saeed, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah spokesperson, as telling a foreign publication that the ministry does not fund any Hajj. The media outlet also cautioned readers on online links, which have spread recently.

PesaCheck has looked into a Facebook post claiming that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is offering free sponsorships to Muslims who are financially unable to perform Hajj in 2024 and found it to be a HOAX.

Source: pesacheck