The Coronavirus spreads fear and uncertainty.

And it would appear that in everyday life already have enough Fake News, miss need a lot of dubious Shape the crisis to spread your narrow minded views, or sometimes dangerous nonsense via Messenger, email or Social Media.

Wrong information not only fuel the uncertainty, but spread, sometimes faster than the Virus itself, whether the wrong messages were, consciously or unconsciously, spread, warns the Initiative Deutschland sicher im Netz (DsiN).

Particularly powerful Fake-News benefited from the increased information needs of the people, discussions of emotions and Fears and not be structured in a way that they appear, at least not completely outlandish, declare the experts.

In the case of split Corona-messages remain skeptical

Users should therefore be skeptical of what you receive in messages, images, and Videos, tips or warnings to the novel Coronavirus. It was by Messenger, Mail, SMS, and co., or in social networks, advises DsiN.

Because many of the messages that explain how to protect themselves supposedly against infection, a disease to recognize or what you as the Affected party should do, are fictitious.

Currently, embassies, after which there is a General ban on work, and a self-test, with which one can detect infections circulating, for example.

In addition, messages are Wrong in circulation, in which alleged the Doctors tips to Corona-type control, or in which the Drinking of large quantities of water, as the Virus remedies is sold.

To be able to the current situation and the Coronavirus-risk rate, should keep Users of the information of the Robert Koch Institute advises the DsiN Initiative.

The world health organization WHO and the local health Department are excellent places to start for reliable information.

Critical questions expose the nonsense messages

For personal facts, check messages, messages, messages, or chain letters home to DsiN, according to these issues – and with healthy people answer mind.

Check the source of the

The source of the message, or the Video comes from and who distributed the information actually for what reason?

Here you should also look at any profile information of the distributor. And the message from friends or family comes to ask also, where it came from originally.

The propagator is not trustworthy, stay the origin and the origin of the information is unclear, or the authors, or the supposed experts who come to speak are completely unknown, or doubtful, may be an argument for a hoax.

Language Abnormalities

The information are slash – and puncture-resistant, there are linguistic or other peculiarities? A speciality of the wrong messages are vague, incomplete, or out of context information, in which important Details, such as names and places will be hit.

Formulations such as “a doctor”, “an uncle from China” or “in a village” are warning signs.

In addition, “Shine” Fake News in a beautiful regularity with lax to lurid wording, spelling, and translation errors, or stolen, and broken quotes.

And you should ask yourself, who could benefit from a message? In the end, only the interests of a purely commercial intentions controlled, maybe?

Other sources

Others have reported? Helpful counter-check for known, trusted sources such as media or authorities, is often.

Is not reported, in particular, if a message is particularly sensitive, it is likely that she is simply wrong.

No More Lines

I react correctly? The first Reflex in supposedly spectacular, but also difficult to be classified information often to forward or post.

But this is false. Clearly identifiable Fakes or information that appear suspicious, you should send not more or share.

The better response: report about social media, where the message is read. In addition, you should inform the people or institutions whose names are probably or obviously a need for false reports miss.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)

*The post “beware of Fake News: how to recognize false messages in the Corona-crisis” is published by FitForFun. Contact with the executives here.