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Hoax – A company would be donating 480 refrigerators and washing machines with minor defects to those who write “Done” on Facebook.
Analysis
Promises of donating products such as appliances, cell phones, and other items with minor manufacturing defects have become increasingly common on social media. These messages, usually accompanied by phrases like “comment to participate” or “write done,” appeal to people’s excitement over getting a freebie. The new version of the scam mentions the distribution of 480 refrigerators and washing machines that were not sold due to scratches and dents.
What stands out in this case is the reach of the message: the same text was shared by different pages in countries such as Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Botswana, the United States, Mexico, and others. The structure is always the same, with only the company name or language of the post changing. Here is the content being shared:
We are pleased to announce that we will be donating 480 refrigerators and washing machines that were not sold because they have small scratches and dents. They are all in good condition and are new. Therefore, we will be randomly sending them to random followers every day to anyone who writes “Done” before May 20 at 5 PM. Good luck!
Fact-check
Messages like this have appeared in many versions, promising giveaways from well-known companies for a simple interaction. In this case, we analyzed the following questions: 1) Is a company donating 480 refrigerators and washing machines to those who comment on Facebook? 2) What happens if you comment on the post about the donation? 3) Is there a history of similar scams?
Is a company donating 480 refrigerators and washing machines to those who comment on Facebook?
No. The supposed donation is actually a widely spread social engineering scam by fake profiles and pages. Large companies do not hold giveaways or product distributions in this way, with no clear criteria and using only public comments as participation. Also, no legitimate company gives away products based only on random social media interactions, especially without rules, company name, or official link.
What happens if you comment on the post about the donation of 480 refrigerators and washing machines?
Many users report receiving private messages or being redirected to suspicious websites. Often, these links lead to phishing pages designed to steal Facebook credentials or personal data. Some scams ask the person to fill out fake forms or pay for shipping, as documented in cases like the fake Havan donation. Other similar scams used the name Walmart, as shown in this previous check.
Is there a history of similar scams?
Yes. The scam follows a classic pattern of fake giveaways with tempting promises. Over the years, several cases have been debunked, involving popular brands like Walmart and Havan. The tactic usually includes emotional appeal (“products with minor defects”), urgency (“deadline to participate”), and simple interaction (“comment a word” or “click a link”). The fact that this message appears in multiple countries also reinforces that it is a global scheme, locally adapted to trick as many users as possible.
Conclusion
The message promising the donation of 480 refrigerators and washing machines to those who write “Done” on Facebook is another well-known scam on the internet. The content has the typical structure of phishing attempts and has been seen in versions involving other companies and countries. It is not a legitimate action, and those who interact risk having their data or accounts compromised.
Fake news 
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