Economy & business fact checks

«Per la prima volta negli ultimi quattro anni in Italia la povertà assoluta è diminuita. Un risultato reso possibile dall’introduzione nel nostro Paese del reddito di cittadinanza»

Publisher’s rating: C'eri quasi

«A differenza di altri governi, ma è evidente che noi non consentiamo che [i lavoratori] siano licenziati [...] In altri Paesi hanno già tantissima disoccupazione, noi qui in Italia non la vogliamo, la vogliamo prevenire, la vogliamo evitare»

Publisher’s rating: Nì

The claim concerns remarks by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at the States General of the Economy at Villa Pamphilj in Rome. He said Italy was preventing workers from being dismissed while other countries already had high unemployment. Pagella Politica examined both parts: whether Italy’s measures were exceptional and whether unemployment data supported the comparison. The review says it consulted International Labour Organization material on measures taken by 188 countries, alongside the latest available Italian, Eurostat and OECD figures cited in the article. The investigation found that Italy had strengthened its wage-support scheme and barred dismissals for objective economic reasons, also suspending dismissal procedures already underway. But wage-support measures were not unique: Germany, France and Spain expanded comparable schemes, and the review describes other forms of support in the UK and US. Italy’s dismissal ban was more unusual among large EU countries, though Spain had adopted a similar measure. Thus, the claim that Italy differed from other governments was only partly supported. The employment figures also required qualification. The review reports that Italy’s unemployment rate fell to 6.3 per cent in April, but says this did not mean the crisis had spared the labour market: employment fell by 274,000 and inactive people increased by 746,000. The review attributes part of that increase to discouragement during the emergency. Its conclusion is that Conte overstated both the uniqueness of the government’s measures and what the unemployment comparison showed; the falling rate alone left out substantial job losses and rising inactivity.

Gewinnspiele erfreuen sich im Internet großer Beliebtheit. Das nutzen unseriöse Anbieter aus, um angebliche Gewinnspiele für ihre Zwecke zu erstellen. Zur Zeit freuen sich etwa zahlreiche User in Österreich über die Aussicht, angeblich einen von fünf Audi A4 auf der Facebook-Seite «Audi Club» gewinnen zu können

Publisher’s rating: Bei dem angeblichen Gewinnspiel fehlen entscheidende Informationen, vor allem zum Anbieter. Es handelt sich um kein offizielles Gewinnspiel von Audi Österreich.

The claim concerns a Facebook promotion offering users in Austria the chance to win one of five Audi A4s through a page called «Audi Club». The investigation examined that specific page and compared it with Audi Austria’s official online presence. It found the giveaway page had an Audi logo but was not linked from Audi Austria’s homepage; Audi Germany did not link to it either. Audi Austria’s homepage instead linked to a different Facebook page as its official account. The review described several differences between the giveaway page and the official account. «Audi Club» had been created on 27 May 2020, lacked Facebook’s verification badge, and had only four status posts. The page also provided no imprint. By contrast, the official account had existed since March 2012, linked to an imprint that directed users to Audi Austria’s official website, and had not promoted a giveaway since the date of the suspicious post. The review also reports that Porsche Austria, the company responsible for Audi in Austria, denied involvement when asked by the agency. Taken together, the page’s lack of links from Audi’s official sites, its missing imprint, and the company’s direct denial support the conclusion that this was not an official Audi Austria giveaway.

ജർമ്മനിയിൽ ഇന്ധന വില ഉയർന്നപ്പോൾ ജനങ്ങൾ വാഹനങ്ങൾ റോഡിൽ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് സമരം നടത്തി

Publisher’s rating: FALSE

Im Internet kursieren mehrere gefälschte Nachrichtenmeldungen, in denen Prominente angeblich über lukrative Investitionsmöglichkeiten berichten. So heißt es in einem dieser Artikel etwa, dass Red-Bull-Gründer Dietrich Mateschitz im ORF über eine Plattform für den Handel mit Kryptowährungen geschwärmt haben soll

Publisher’s rating: Das ist falsch. Mateschitz wirbt nicht für eine solche Kryptowährungs-Handelsplattform. Es handelt sich bei dem Artikel nicht um einen Text der «Kronen Zeitung», wie suggeriert wird.

The review examined a purported news article claiming that Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz had praised a cryptocurrency trading platform on ORF. It says the article used the Kronen Zeitung logo, but was not a genuine report by that newspaper. The review therefore addresses both the alleged endorsement and the article’s presentation as legitimate news. [source: S1]

Se deniega la prestación por desempleo por ser de nacionalidad española

Publisher’s rating: Falso

The review examined a social-media screenshot said to show that an unemployment-benefit applicant had been rejected for being Spanish. The Spanish Ministry of Labour, Migration and Social Security told Newtral that the screenshot mixed up two distinct types of unemployment protection. Newtral also reported that the image’s benefit-type field said “Prestación por desempleo,” while its stated reason for rejection referred instead to “Subsidio de desempleo.” The ministry identified that mismatch as the main indication that the case was not genuine. (S1: “Una captura de pantalla que circula por las redes sociales asegura que se le negó a un solicitante la prestación por desempleo por «ser de nacionalidad española».”; “el principal indicio que denota que no es un caso real es que mezcla dos tipos distintos de protección”; “en la casilla tipo pone ‘Prestación por desempleo’ y sin embargo, en la casilla de causa de denegación pone ‘Subsidio de desempleo’ en vez de prestación.”) The article explains that the contributory benefit depends on a worker’s prior contributions, while the non-contributory subsidy is a separate form of assistance. It cites the public employment service’s description of the contribution requirement and reports that the ministry said a worker who meets the applicable requirements has the same entitlement whether Spanish or not. The review also notes the legal qualification that foreign nationals must have legal residence to access the relevant social-security benefits; it says eligible foreign residents can access them on the same terms as Spanish nationals. (S1: “Para acceder a ella se requiere un periodo mínimo de cotización”; “si un trabajador legal en España cumple con los plazos y requisitos para recibir las ayudas para la prestación de desempleo tiene todo el derecho a ellas, lo mismo que cualquier otro trabajador, sea español o no.”; “para acceder a todo el catálogo de prestaciones de la Seguridad Social, como es el caso de las prestaciones por desempleo, es necesario tener residencia legal.”) As supporting context, the article reports that foreign nationals were a minority of unemployment-benefit recipients: 11.01% at the end of 2018 and 11.76% in April 2020. Those figures describe recipients, rather than the circumstances behind the screenshot, so the review’s central evidence is the screenshot’s mismatch between benefit type and rejection reason and the ministry’s explanation of eligibility. (S1: “a 31 de diciembre de ese año, el número de beneficiarios extranjeros de prestaciones por desempleo era de 202.119, lo que supone un 11,01 % sobre el total a nivel estatal”; “En abril de 2020 por ejemplo, 4.647.765 personas se beneficiaron de la protección por desempleo.”; “representaban el 11,76% del total.”)

در دولت یازدهم نرخ تورم از ۴۰ درصد به ۷ درصد رسید.

Publisher’s rating: نادرست

پیش از تحریم‌های شدید، نرخ رشد اقتصادی را از منفی ۸درصد به ۱۴درصد رساندیم.

Publisher’s rating: گمراه‌کننده

O HOMEM MAIS RICO DA CHINA HOJE O DONO DO BRASIL Segundo o jornal Forbs o chinês Jack Ma, comprou de hidrelétricas a centenas de fazendas no Brasil.

Publisher’s rating: Falso

Grande oportunidade pra quem tá precisando trabalhar de casa. Tão contratando com urgência! VAGAS DISPONÍVEIS: 2.300 Vagas SALÁRIO: R$1.740,00 Mensal ou R$435,00

Publisher’s rating: Falso

«Oggi è uscito uno studio che analizza più nel dettaglio le condizioni [dei prestiti del Mes]. Sul decennale siamo a 0,08, quindi più basso di quello che si era pensato, e sui sette anni addirittura a tassi negativi: -0,07. In sostanza ci pagherebbero per darci il prestito» (min. 2:41:25)

Publisher’s rating: Vero

En nuestro país un 21,5% de la población sufre pobreza severa

Publisher’s rating: Falso

«Sì [la crisi causata dalla pandemia di coronavirus n.d.r.] è la peggiore [...] in un colpo solo l’Italia perde 150 miliardi [...] sono il 10 per cento di ricchezza nazionale [...] di colpo il nostro debito pubblico passa dal 135 al 155 per cento» (min. 1:00:10)

Publisher’s rating: Vero

The review concerns Enrico Letta’s remarks on June 9, 2020, during an appearance on La7’s DiMartedì. He compared the pandemic crisis with earlier Italian crises and said Italy would lose €150 billion, equivalent to 10% of national wealth, while public debt would rise from 135% to 155% of GDP. The review emphasizes that these were forecasts for a year still in progress, not final measurements: the Bank of Italy had cautioned that making macroeconomic forecasts under the circumstances was extremely difficult. To assess whether the forecast crisis was historically exceptional, the review compared projected 2020 GDP contraction with past figures. It cites Istat’s estimate of an 8.3% decline, alongside less favorable forecasts from the IMF and European Commission, and checks Italian GDP data from Eurostat and the World Bank. The largest annual decline identified in the periods examined was 5.3% in 2009; earlier declines were smaller. Thus, the review found that the projected contraction would exceed the past declines it examined, while noting that forecasts also anticipated a rebound in 2021. For the money and debt figures, the review compared European Commission and Italian government projections. The Commission’s estimate implied a €156 billion fall in current-price GDP from 2019 to 2020, while the government’s forecast implied a €126.3 billion fall. Using the Commission figure, the loss was 8.7% of 2018 gross national income—the latest figure available in the review—not 10%. For debt, the government forecast rose from 134.8% of GDP in 2019 to 155.7% in 2020; the Commission forecast was 158.9%. The review therefore described Letta’s figures as broadly accurate, with qualifications: the loss and wealth-share estimates differed somewhat, and the Commission projected a higher debt ratio.

నెస్లే కంపెనీ మాగీ నూడుల్స్ ని భారత దేశం లో ‘బీఫ్’ ఫ్లేవర్ లో అమ్ముతుంది

Publisher’s rating: FALSE

Op Facebook worden massaal berichten gedeeld over grootwarenhuizen die waardebonnen van 140 euro cadeau doen. Volgens de berichten, die doorverwijzen naar een aparte website, krijg je een waardebon wanneer je een link op Facebook deelt. Onder meer winkelketens als Colruyt, Mediamarkt, Aldi en Lidl zouden de actie lanceren, maar klopt dat wel?

Publisher’s rating: De berichten en de website zijn vals. Cybercriminelen proberen aan de hand van een phishing-tactiek je gegevens te pakken te krijgen. De winkelketens bevestigen dat ze nooit een dergelijke actie gelanceerd hebben.

The review examined Facebook posts promising €140 vouchers from Colruyt, MediaMarkt, Aldi and Lidl in exchange for sharing a link, and the separate websites those posts directed users to. It reports that the sites used the same wording, changing only the company name, and that comments beneath the fake Facebook page were identical. Those similarities led the investigation to identify the pages as part of the same scam: “Op de valse pagina’s van de andere ketens staat exact dezelfde zin, maar dan met de aangepaste naam van het bedrijf in kwestie. Wat opvalt: ook de comments onder de valse Facebookpagina zijn identiek. Kortom, het gaat om dezelfde oplichters.” The retailers did not endorse the offer. The review says all the chains denied launching it and quotes Colruyt spokesperson Silja Decock confirming it was not a Colruyt Group initiative. It also notes that several chains had already posted warnings on social media: “Alle ketens melden dat ze nooit een dergelijke actie hebben gelanceerd. ‘We kunnen bevestigen dat het geen initiatief is van Colruyt Group’, zegt woordvoerder Silja Decock.” The article also reports corroboration from the federal police’s Computer Crime Unit, which described the scheme as a familiar form of fraud. It quotes the unit’s advice to check website addresses, noting that scammers often use altered URLs and that Colruyt’s correct address is Colruyt.be. The evidence in the review therefore concerns the specific voucher posts and their linked pages, rather than a genuine promotion by the named retailers.

Este Gobierno ha garantizado ya a seis millones de personas la cobertura a través de los ERTEs

Publisher’s rating: Falso

Op Facebook wordt een verhaal gedeeld over een vrouw van Marokkaanse afkomst die aan belastingsfraude zou doen. Volgens het bericht stort de vrouw elke maand 250 euro op een rekening die zogezegd op naam van haar buitenlandse grootouders staat. Vervolgens gaat ze dat bedrag – dat ze voor 80 procent kan terugtrekken van de belastingen – gewoon zelf halen in het buitenland. Maar hoe realistisch is dat verhaal?

Publisher’s rating: Het verhaal is misleidend. Hoewel het klopt dat er een fiscale aftrekbaarheid zit op onderhoudsgeld, moet daar nog steeds bedrijfsvoorheffing op worden betaald.

The Facebook post described in the review alleges that a woman of Moroccan descent sends €250 each month to an account supposedly belonging to her grandparents abroad, then retrieves the money herself while claiming 80% of it back through tax. The review says the story had circulated for years and that versions had been edited over time. Its central omission was that tax withholding still applies to qualifying maintenance payments. The review reports that Belgium’s Federal Public Service Finance permits maintenance costs to be declared only under conditions. One stated condition is withholding tax of 26.75% on 80% of the payments. It also says the person making the payments cannot simply spend the money themselves: the payments must support someone in need, and that support must be substantiated with evidentiary documents. The review quotes FOD Finance spokesperson Francis Adyns saying the circulating message leaves out withholding tax and is “gewoonweg fout” (“simply wrong”). Thus, while the review acknowledges that a tax deduction for maintenance payments exists, the post’s presentation leaves out both a tax obligation and limits on how the money may be used. The supplied excerpt does not establish whether the specific woman in the post existed or personally carried out the described transactions.

"Americans pay vastly more than people in other countries for the exact same drugs, often made in the exact same place.”

Publisher’s rating: Pretty accurate

"Wages are rising at the fastest pace in decades."

Publisher’s rating: Rose faster in 1990s

Sur Facebook, une publication propose aux internautes de gagner un « coupon de 140 € ». Celui-ci serait offert par MediaMarkt en échange du partage du lien vers un mini-site.

Publisher’s rating: Il s'agit d'une arnaque, d'un hameçonnage. MediaMarkt n'a pas lancé une telle action sur les réseaux sociaux. Une telle pratique de phishing similaire a été dénoncée ces jours-ci. Elle visait Colruyt.

The review concerns a Facebook post offering a €140 coupon purportedly from MediaMarkt in return for sharing a link to a mini-site. The site’s wording claimed that MediaMarkt was offering free €140 coupons to everyone; it then presented visitors with a questionnaire. The investigation did not treat the brand name or the offer as proof that the promotion was genuine. DPA says it contacted MediaMarkt spokesperson Janick De Saedeleer. She confirmed the offer was a scam and said the company had launched no such promotion. This direct response from the company is the key evidence addressing whether MediaMarkt authorized the Facebook offer. The review also places the offer in the context of similar coupon lures, including a contemporaneous scam using Colruyt’s name. It reports that the Federal Computer Crime Unit called the practice a classic scam and advised people to inspect the URL, which it said was not a normal-looking, secure address. These details support the warning about the linked mini-site; they do not establish that every offer shared on Facebook is fraudulent.