A new hoax is spreading between Facebook users, in the mistaken belief that sharing a picture of a sick boy in intensive care will grant him a heart transplant.
If this little boy gets 100 shares he can get his heart transplant for free
Of course, the message is nonsense – and simply clogs up Facebook users’ walls and newsfeeds. Think about it – is it really likely that a child will be given a heart transplant simply because enough people like a photograph on Facebook?
Another version of the hoax reads as follows:
I NEED AT LEAST 10000 SHARES.
Plz share….. Heart surgery free of cost for children (0-10 Yrs) Ph : 080-28411500 It might save some1’s life…! Sharing takes a second… in bangalore INDIA
More than likes, sharing can help !
According to the Urban Legends blog on About.com, the telephone number belongs to the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Whitefield in Bangalore, India. The clinic gives free medical assistance, and does not base surgery upon anything related to Facebook.
If a friend of yours shares a message with you like this…
Read more in my article on the Naked Security website.
Found this article interesting? Follow Graham Cluley on Twitter or Mastodon to read more of the exclusive content we post.
