Fact Check: Is WHO Sending E-Mails Seeking Money To Fight Coronavirus?

The coronavirus crisis worsening with every passing hour. According to John Hopkins COVID-19 tracker, 786,291 confirmed cases have been reported across the world. As many as 37,820 people have lost their lives to the COVID-19  infection. The US is the worst-hit with a maximum number of confirmed cases around the globe. Itlay has recorded the maximum number of deaths. The current tally stands at 11,591 as of Tuesday.  (Coronavirus LIVE Updates)

Amid the global struggle to contain the pandemic, some who are trying to take advantage of the situation by duping people with malicious cyber tricks.  There are claims on the social media about the World Health Organization launching a funding campaign seeking money from people via emails to fight the battle against coronavirus. Several people across the world are reporting about getting an email from the WHO asking for donating to the corona fund. 

So what is the truth behind the WHO's funding campaign? The reality is, the WHO has NOT launched any such campaign and cyber attackers are using its name to dupe people. In a statement, the WHO said that "Criminals are disguising themselves as WHO to steal money or sensitive information.  If you are contacted by a person or organization that appears to be from WHO, verify their authenticity before responding."

Though there is a COVID-19 'solidarity fund' operated by the WHO,  the international body has clarified that the donations are entirely voluntary and it never sends email seeking money.  "Make sure the sender has an email address such as ‘person@who.int’ If there is anything other than ‘who.int’ after the ‘@’ symbol, this sender is not from WHO.  For example, WHO does not send email from addresses ending in ‘@who.com’ , ‘@who.org’ or ‘@who-safety.org’, the WHO said while warning people about how to spot an imposter. 

Meanwhile, the World Bank has warned that about 11 million people could be driven into poverty in East Asia and the Pacific as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that has impacted over 780,000 people and killed more than 37,000 globally. The Washington-based global lender, in a report released on Monday, said that prior projections had estimated that nearly 35 million people would escape poverty in East Asia and the Pacific in 2020, including over 25 million in China alone.

"If the economic situation were to deteriorate further, and the lower-case scenario prevails, then poverty is estimated to increase by about 11 million people," it said in its April 2020 Economic Update for East Asia and the Pacific ahead of the annual spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

(With agency inputs)