Fake ISRO Twitter handle says Chandrayaan-2 lands on moon, Hema Malini retweets it

The account, which has more than 10,000 followers, is misleading given its name and display picture are similar to the official ISRO Twitter handle.

ISRO's official update had retweeted this image of Vikram lander, which was tweeted by an unverified account | Twitter

New Delhi: A fake Twitter account named ISRO Official Update has been spreading misinformation and fake news regarding Chandrayaan-2 and has confused many, including BJP MP Hema Malini. 

The account has more than 10,000 followers and a recent tweet by the account, about the Chandrayaan-2 lander – Vikram, garnered almost 13,000 retweets and 52,000 likes. This was the same tweet that Hema Malini shared mistaking it for an official update. 

Update on Chandrayaan 2 pic.twitter.com/3wXlxv3hj3

— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) September 8, 2019

It also took troubles to compare the moon’s gravity to earth and claimed the lander made a soft landing. However, ISRO Chairman K. Sivan officially confirmed that Vikram made a hard landing. 

https://twitter.com/shivraj_Office/status/1170631666047442944

 

The same fake twitter account ‘inspired’ by ISRO celebrated the fact that soldiers and scientists are being portrayed as ‘heroes’ in movies.

https://twitter.com/shivraj_Office/status/1170939965066244097?s=20

Along with the misleading name, the profile picture of the account is also the official ISRO emblem which makes it seem like the account is legitimate. The account has also been sharing various articles about the lunar project and also tweeted out some bizarre, unverified news such as a possible Indian lunar station in 10 years. 

https://twitter.com/shivraj_Office/status/1170895732607291392?s=20

 

ISRO’s Chairman K Sivan wasn’t spared by the fake brigade either. He does not have an official account on Twitter, so fan accounts sought to help him out with the same.

A fake account joined the reassuring brigade to falsely promise that ISRO will be able to ‘collect data by adding information’ and complete the mission. This is far from the truth, as a senior official from the organisation has been quoted as saying that the chances of re-establishing contact with the lander are very slim. 

https://twitter.com/kailasvadivoo/status/1170932774636666880?s=20

Another fake account, which has changed its name now, replied to a tweet by the Prime Minister of Bhutan. 

https://twitter.com/Latestup_/status/1170952217811013633

(With inputs from Rachel John)