Fact Check

Beware of Impostors: Fake ISRO Accounts on Social Media Mislead Netizens

Published

10 months ago

July 19, 2023

Beware of Impostors: Fake ISRO Accounts on Social Media Mislead Netizens

NEW DELHI: In the wake of India’s momentous achievement in successfully launching Chandrayaan-3, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is celebrating the historic milestone. However, with widespread interest in the mission and ISRO’s activities, several fraudulent Instagram and Twitter accounts have emerged, falsely claiming to be the official channels of ISRO.

These deceptive accounts have sparked concerns among netizens, prompting the Indian government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check to take action.

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Identifying the Authentic ISRO Account on Instagram

The PIB Fact Check, tasked with countering misinformation and disinformation, has officially confirmed the legitimate Instagram handle for the Indian Space Research Organisation. The genuine account is registered as ‘isro.dos’ on Instagram. Any other accounts claiming to represent ISRO are fraudulent and should not be trusted for accurate information.

In an advisory, the PIB Fact Check urged the public to rely solely on the authentic ‘isro.dos’ Instagram account and the official ISRO website, ‘https://isro.gov.in,’ for reliable updates and announcements related to Chandrayaan-3 and all other space missions.

Several #FAKE Instagram accounts are claiming to be the official account of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)#PIBFactCheck:

▶️The official account of @isro on Instagram is 'isro.dos'

▶️For authentic info, visit ISRO's official website: 'https://t.co/zj4UPOR7cR' pic.twitter.com/cNLdZdnPZk

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 19, 2023

The Success of Chandrayaan-3

Friday marked a significant day for India as ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission took off successfully. The mission aims to further explore the lunar surface, building on the accomplishments of its predecessors, Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2. The achievement has garnered widespread interest and curiosity from people across the country and beyond.

Exploiting Curiosity: The Rise of Fake Accounts

With the public eagerly seeking information, images, and videos related to Chandrayaan-3 and ISRO, opportunistic individuals and cyber criminals have taken advantage of the situation. These anti-social elements have created fake profiles on popular social media platforms, attempting to mislead and deceive unsuspecting netizens.

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These fraudulent accounts often circulate false or misleading information, potentially damaging ISRO’s reputation and causing confusion among the public. As a result, it is crucial for netizens to be cautious and vigilant while engaging with ISRO-related content on social media.

Protecting Against Misinformation

To avoid falling victim to misinformation and scams, netizens are strongly encouraged to follow the official ‘isro.dos’ Instagram account and visit the official ISRO website, ‘https://isro.gov.in,’ for verified updates and news about the space agency’s missions.

The Indian government and social media platforms must remain proactive in identifying and removing fake accounts impersonating ISRO to protect the public from deceptive content and potential scams.

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