Suspicious Posts About Kumamoto Earthquake Spread on Social Media
False information and dubious posts are spreading on X regarding a massive earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28. Among them is a post purporting to be from a bereaved family member of a victim in the major explosion that occurred at a shopping center following the earthquake.
Suspicious social media posts about the July 28 Kumamoto earthquake are spreading online, according to experts. One post purportedly from a bereaved family member of a victim at a shopping mall following the explosion claimed the mother had passed away, prompting condolences from viewers. However, it was later revealed the messages were fake.
The poster admitted their actions were to increase their view count and online validation. The tech company Spectee identified multiple scam posts, including false donation requests, fake rescue requests, and unsubstantiated claims of foreign criminal groups heading to disaster zones. Some posts spread images and AI-generated videos of collapsed buildings and rescue operations.
Experts warn that hoaxes are not only for attention but also to exploit public anxiety for financial gain, especially as the disaster-hit areas experience extreme heat.
Written by urgent.news from The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
